Rampant Hearts overpower meek Celtic to go eight points clear

Lawrence Shankland put the seal on Hearts' statement win

Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership to bolster their early-season title credentials and deepen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave Derek McInnes' side a 3-1 lead that the reigning champions could not recover from.

Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - slashed into his own net early on to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old's foul that led to the spot-kick.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts' opener, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the first time since 2023.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the summit.

The last time they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.

McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to play down title talk, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since 1960.

Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on Sunday's evidence, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.

Analysis: Hearts take advantage of depleted Celtic

Hearts started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season -fans' favourite Kyziridis poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic didn't help themselves with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.

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 unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Celtic grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for McGregor, who rolled in.

Aside from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.

Hearts regained their intensity and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.

Almost straight away, Murray tripped Braga in the inside right channel and Shankland converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.

Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up in two incidents 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 Belgium international was then booked for a cynical 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.

"What we have got, 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've got a good thing going at the minute, but it's only three points. It's important for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, loads to do. After the first two rounds of fixtures is normally an indication of where you are."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor [second Hearts] goal from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the shot.

"There's still so many points to play for. It's still so early. It's only nine games in. Obviously, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The comfort is there's so many games to play.

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

What's next for these teams?

Celtic are back at home on Wednesday against promoted side Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at St Mirren.