Hearts eight points clear after Lawrence Shankland finishes off Celtic

EIGHT POINTS CLEAR: Hearts are now eight points clear of Celtic. Picture: Steve Welsh/Getty Images

Scottish Premiership: Hearts 3 (Murray 8 (og), Kyziridis 52, Shankland 55 (P)) Celtic 1 (McGregor 12)

We did not witness the making of history at Tynecastle Park. It remains far too early for that kind of thing. What this match did further emphasise is that Hearts are at least in with a serious opportunity of ending Scottish football’s four decade-long title duopoly. Make that eight points of a lead for Hearts over Celtic, whom they comfortably swatted aside here. Catch them if you can.

Three second-half minutes were key, after an opening period that was closely contested. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 ahead was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis scored Hearts’ second, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless Kasper Schmeichel. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Dane Murray upending Cláudio Braga for a penalty that Lawrence Shankland tucked away. Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, cut such a disconsolate figure; he hardly has his troubles to seek.

Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to panic when trying to clear a Shankland cross. Celtic edged their way back into the game, the captain, Callum McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney cutback for 1-1.

The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the clock ticked down. “We shall not be moved” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the noise.

HEARTS: Schwolow, McEntee, Halkett, Findlay, Kingsley, Milne, Devlin, Baningime, Kyziridis, Braga, Shankland. Subs: Gordon, McCart, Kabangu, Kabore, Steinwender, Spittal, Magnusson, Kerjota, Ageu.

CELTIC: Schmeichel, Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney, Nygren, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, Kenny, Tounekti. Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Balikwisha, McCowan, Yamada, Bernardo, Saracchi, Forrest, Ralston.

Referee: Steven McLean (Scotland)

More to follow...

Guardian