The Tynecastle side Move 8 Points Ahead at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes The Glasgow Giants
History wasn't made at their home ground, with it being far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Turning Point in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes proved decisive, following a tight first half that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the hosts. The Greek winger netted the second goal, moving infield before thumping a right-footed shot past the stationary the Celtic keeper. More joy followed in the stands, Murray upending Braga for a foul that Shankland converted. The Celtic manager appeared frustrated; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
The away side responded positively from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to haste when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader McGregor, turning home a Tierney cutback for the equaliser.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Complete analysis to follow.
