🔗 Share this article

Rampant Hearts surged eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early championship claims and worsen the struggles around the Celtic team.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the reigning champions 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 their home ground, 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 Benjamin Nygren almost put Celtic in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts regained dominance to hand the visitors to back-to-back losses for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage 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 - one of just four occasions that a team has not secured the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose former team were runners-up to the champions on multiple times, has been working hard to downplay title talk, as Hearts seek their maiden league title since 1960.

Rodgers 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 deserve serious consideration.

Analysis: Hearts Capitalize of Depleted Celtic

The Edinburgh side started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to fire off target.

Celtic didn't aid their cause with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their initial test.

A headed effort from Braga 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 building moves. From a flowing attack, the midfielder released Tierney to square for McGregor, who slotted home.

Apart from the opportunity for Nygren, the visitors found it hard to generate chances for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers their key strikers.

Hearts regained their intensity and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's scouting network, fired a low shot past Schmeichel from the just outside the area.

Immediately after, the defender fouled Braga in the right side of the box and Shankland scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had replacement Ageu not been denied by the shot-stopper.

The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in a couple of moments involving big-money recruit Engles.

The set-piece from Engles delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a professional foul.

What They Said

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "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 skillful players. You're seeing that from multiple individuals who have been here before. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's only three points. It's crucial for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, loads to do. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of where you are."

The Celtic boss: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to improve with the shot.

"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight adrift is not ideal. The comfort is there's numerous fixtures to play.

"We now have to focus on the here and now and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

What's Next for These Teams?

The Glasgow club are returning to their stadium on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

---