The Jambos Extend 8 Points Ahead at the Summit After Shankland's Penalty Defeats Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, with it being far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's four decade-long title duopoly. They now lead by eight points for the team over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes were key, once the initial exchanges that was fiercely fought. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how untroubled the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis netted the second goal, moving infield before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down Cláudio Braga for a spot-kick that Shankland slotted home. The Celtic manager looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
Supporters began celebrating after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
Hoops' Reaction
The away side responded positively from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney cutback for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the buzz.
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