🔗 Share this article

Rampant Hearts powered eight ahead of Celtic at the top of the Scottish top flight to strengthen their early-season championship claims and deepen the struggles around the Celtic team.

A superb goal from Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave the Hearts team a 3-1 lead that the reigning champions could not overcome.

Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal in the early stages to put the home side ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the spot-kick.

A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had quickly cancelled out the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to save from close range.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since 2023.

It also gives the Hearts a significant lead at the top of the table.

The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under their former manager, when they ended as runners-up - a rare instance that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the last three decades.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since 1960.

Rodgers has seen it all before at the club - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.

But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.

Match Analysis: The hosts Take Advantage of Depleted Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.

The Glasgow team didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their initial test.

Claudio Braga's header was touched on to a post by the Celtic keeper and Shankland's return ball was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Celtic found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, the midfielder released the full-back to square for the captain, who rolled in.

Apart from the opportunity for Nygren, the visitors found it hard to generate chances for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.

The home team regained their intensity and versatility in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.

Immediately after, the defender tripped Braga in the inside right channel and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had replacement Ageu not been stopped by the shot-stopper.

Celtic's second half was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the Belgium international was then booked for a professional foul.

Post-Match Comments

The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not always enough to win games consistently.

"Our strength lies in, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from a lot of players who have been here previously. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.

"We've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's only three points. It's crucial for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, loads to do. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of your standing."

The Celtic boss: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a line so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The positive is there's so many games to play.

"We now have to focus on the here and now and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play."

What's Next for Both Sides?

Celtic are returning to their stadium on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

---