The Jambos Extend 8 Points Clear Ahead at the Pinnacle After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Overcomes The Glasgow Giants
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such milestones. This game highlighted is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine serious opportunity of breaking Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Turning Point in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase were key, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger doubled the lead, drifting inside before blasting a strike past the static Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling Cláudio Braga for a penalty that Shankland tucked away. Rodgers appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to confusion when trying to clear a ball into the box. Celtic edged their way back into the game, leader McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pass for level terms.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We shall not be moved” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Complete analysis coming soon.
