The Tynecastle side Extend Eight Points Clear Clear at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
History wasn't made at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine credible shot of breaking Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase were key, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the rest of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis netted the second goal, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the static the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, Murray bringing down Cláudio Braga for a foul that the captain tucked away. The Celtic manager appeared frustrated; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
Celtic bounced back from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who struggled throughout, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to deal with a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Full report coming soon.
