Dominant Heart of Midlothian Overpower Struggling Celtic to Extend Eight Pts in Front
Key points
- Hearts' attacking duo secure victory for the hosts and propel them eight points clear at summit
- Celtic's McGregor cancelled out early Murray own goal
- Hearts go 13 league matches without defeat for the first occasion in over two decades
Rampant Hearts powered eight ahead of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership to strengthen their early championship claims and deepen 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 title holders could not recover from.
Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - slashed into his own net 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 penalty.
Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized Hearts' opener, 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 the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to hand Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year.
It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the summit.
The last time they were so far clear was in the 2005-2006 season under their former manager, when they ended as runners-up - 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 Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been working hard to downplay championship discussions, as the club seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.
Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.
But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they need to be taken seriously.
Analysis: The hosts Capitalize of Weakened Celtic
Hearts started with the confidence of a side undefeated in the league this season - fans' favourite Kyziridis delivered a ball for Shankland to fire off target.
Celtic didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.
A headed effort from Braga was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic found their rhythm and started building moves. From a flowing attack, the midfielder released the full-back to set up McGregor, who rolled in.
Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.
Hearts rediscovered their energy and adaptability in creating chances in the opposition half. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's scouting network, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.
Almost straight away, the defender tripped Braga in the inside right channel and Shankland converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had replacement Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.
The visitors' performance after the break was partially encapsulated in a couple of moments involving record signing Arne Engles.
The set-piece from Engles delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then booked for a professional foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not always enough to win games week in, week out.
"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals 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 just one win. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of your standing."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "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 should have players offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the shot.
"There's still so many points 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 These Teams?
The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the Scottish Premiership, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.
Star Performer
Hearts Ratings
- Jersey: 89 A. Kyziridis - Score: 8.65
- Number: 9 L. Shankland - Score: 8.40
- Number: 4 C. Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
- Number: 10 Braga - Average Rating: 8.27
- Number: 14 Cameron Devlin - Score: 8.22
- Number: 6 B. Baningime - Score: 8.16
- Jersey: 19 S. Findlay - Score: 8.07
- Jersey: 3 S. Kingsley - Score: 8.06
- Number: 18 H. Milne - Average Rating: 8.05
- Number: 25 Alexander Schwolow - Average Rating: 8.04
- Number: 31 Owen McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Jersey: 7 E. Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Number: 22 Theodor Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 M. Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01
- Number: 5 J. McCart - Score: 6.82
Visitors Player Scores
- Number: 42 Callum McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Number: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Jersey: 63 Kieran Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56
- Number: 5 Liam Scales - Score: 3.43
- Jersey: 51 Cillian Donovan - Score: 3.34
- Number: 8 B. Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28
- Jersey: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Jersey: 14 L. McCowan - Score: 3.09
- Jersey: 41 Reo Hatate - Average Rating: 3.05
- Number: