The Jambos Push 8 Points Clear Clear at the Pinnacle After Shankland's Spot-Kick Defeats Celtic

History wasn't made at Tynecastle Park, with it being far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that the Edinburgh club are at least in with serious opportunity of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.

Turning Point in the Second Half

A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, after an opening period that was evenly matched. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how comfortable the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger scored Hearts’ second, cutting in from the left before blasting a strike past the motionless the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray upending Braga for a spot-kick that the captain converted. Rodgers appeared frustrated; he hardly has his troubles to seek.

Supporters began celebrating after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.

Celtic's Response

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 deal with a Shankland cross. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pass for level terms.

Hearts' Defensive Resilience

The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the stadium. One cannot overlook the noise.

• Full report coming soon.