Hearts Push 8 Points Clear Clear at the Pinnacle After Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's 40-year title duopoly. They now lead by eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Second Half
A crucial three-minute spell proved decisive, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. What was so notable after they extended their advantage was how untroubled the closing stages of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger scored Hearts’ second, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the stationary Kasper Schmeichel. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Dane Murray upending Cláudio Braga for a foul that Lawrence Shankland tucked away. The Celtic manager looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic had actually recovered well from the hosts' quick opening. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, conceded an own goal due to panic when trying to remove a Shankland cross. They gradually fought back into the game, leader Callum McGregor, finishing a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the ground. It's hard to ignore the noise.
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