🔗 Share this article

Rampant Hearts surged eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership to bolster their early title credentials and worsen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side.

A superb goal from Kyziridis and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave Derek McInnes' side a 3-1 lead that the reigning champions could not recover from.

The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal early on to put Hearts ahead at a energetic Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the penalty.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts' opener, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to make a crucial stop.

But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to hand Celtic to successive league defeats for the first time since 2023.

It also gives the Hearts a significant lead at the summit.

The last time they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under their former manager, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay title talk, as Hearts seek their maiden league title since the 1960s.

The Celtic boss has seen it all before at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts 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: Hearts Take Advantage of Weakened Celtic

Hearts started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for the striker to fire off target.

The Glasgow team didn't aid their cause with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.

A headed effort from Braga was tipped onto the woodwork by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was turned into the net by the unfortunate Murray, in for the absent center-back.

The away side found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released the full-back to square for the captain, who rolled in.

Apart from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.

The home team regained their intensity and adaptability in creating chances in the opposition half. The Greek forward, a standout performer of the club's scouting network, struck low past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.

Almost straight away, Murray tripped the midfielder in the inside right channel and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving record signing Arne Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.

Post-Match Comments

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

"Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from a lot of players who have been here before. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's important for us to maintain this form. We've got much work ahead, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of your standing."

The Celtic boss: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they should have players 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 just nine matches. Clearly, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.

"Our attention must turn on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

The Glasgow club are back at home on Wednesday against newly-promoted Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the identical hour in the top division, Hearts are at St Mirren.

---