Rampant Hearts Overpower Meek The Hoops to Go Eight Pts in Front
At a glance
- Kyziridis & Shankland secure Hearts win and send them eight points clear at summit
- Callum McGregor equalized early Murray own goal
- Hosts extend 13 games without defeat for the first occasion in over two decades
Rampant Hearts surged eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership to strengthen their early championship claims and worsen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side.
A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not overcome.
Dane Murray - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal in the early stages to put the home side ahead at a bouncing their home ground, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the spot-kick.
A stylish finish from McGregor of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts' opener, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Celtic in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to hand the visitors to successive league defeats for the first time since last year.
It also gives the Edinburgh side a significant lead at the top of the table.
The last time they were so far clear was in the 2005-2006 season under George Burley, when they ended as runners-up - a rare instance that a team has not secured the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.
The Hearts coach, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been at pains to play down title talk, as the club seek their maiden league title since 1960.
The Celtic boss has experienced this previously at the club - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's never ended as runner-up.
But on Sunday's evidence, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.
Match Analysis: The hosts 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 Shankland to fire off target.
The Glasgow team didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their initial test.
Claudio Braga's header was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released the full-back to square for the captain, who rolled in.
Aside from the opportunity for Nygren, Celtic found it hard to generate chances for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.
The home team regained their intensity and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's scouting network, struck low past the goalkeeper from the just outside the area.
Immediately after, Murray tripped Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker scored. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.
Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving record signing Arne Engles.
The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the national team player was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul.
What They Said
The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, the team spirit. That's not always enough to win games consistently.
"Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from a lot of players who have been here previously. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.
"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is normally an indication of where you are."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a line so when they pass the ball, 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 still so early. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight points behind is not ideal. The comfort is there's so many games to play.
"Our attention must turn on the present and look to achieve greater stability and better performance in our play."
Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?
The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.
Player of the Match
Hearts Player Scores
- Jersey: 89 A. Kyziridis - Average Rating: 8.65
- Jersey: 9 Lawrence Shankland - Score: 8.40
- Jersey: 4 C. Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30
- Number: 10 Cláudio Braga - Score: 8.27
- Jersey: 14 Cameron Devlin - Average Rating: 8.22
- Jersey: 6 B. Baningime - Average Rating: 8.16
- Number: 19 S. Findlay - Score: 8.07
- Number: 3 S. Kingsley - Average Rating: 8.06
- Number: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05
- Jersey: 25 Alexander Schwolow - Score: 8.04
- Jersey: 31 Owen McEntee - Score: 7.74
- Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35
- Number: 7 E. Kabangu - Score: 7.22
- Number: 22 Theodor Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05
- Jersey: 15 M. Steinwender - Score: 7.01
- Number: 5 Jamie McCart - Score: 6.82
Visitors Ratings
- Jersey: 42 C. McGregor - Score: 4.02
- Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85
- Jersey: 63 Kieran Tierney - Score: 3.68
- Jersey: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56
- Number: 5 L. Scales - Average Rating: 3.43
- Number: 51 Cillian Donovan - Average Rating: 3.34
- Jersey: 8 B. Nygren - Score: 3.28
- Jersey: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24
- Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10
- Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Average Rating: 3.09
- Number: 41 R. Hatate - Score: 3.05
- Jersey: