Hearts Extend 8 Points Clear at the Summit After Shankland's Penalty Overcomes The Glasgow Giants
We did not witness at Tynecastle, as it's far too early for such landmarks. The encounter underlined is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real strong chance of ending Scottish football's long-standing title duopoly. Make that an eight-point lead for Hearts over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes were key, after an opening period that was contested closely. The striking aspect after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how untroubled the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger doubled the lead, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the static Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, Murray bringing down the Hearts player for a penalty that Shankland tucked away. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic bounced back from an early setback. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to confusion when trying to clear a Shankland cross. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney cutback for 1-1.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We shall not be moved” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Full report coming soon.