Hearts Push Eight Points Clear Ahead at the Pinnacle Following Shankland's Spot-Kick Sees Off The Hoops

We did not witness at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine serious opportunity of breaking Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. Make that an eight-point lead for the team over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.

Decisive Period in the Second Half

A crucial three-minute spell were key, once the initial exchanges that was fiercely fought. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the static Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling Cláudio Braga for a foul that the captain converted. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; challenges abound for him.

Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.

The Visitors' Fightback

Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. Murray, who struggled throughout, conceded an own goal due to haste when trying to deal with a ball into the box. Celtic edged their way back into the game, leader Callum McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney cutback for 1-1.

Stubborn Defence

The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the buzz.

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