Image source, SNSJames Penrice was involved in nearly everything Hearts did well in the first half, and would have grabbed himself a couple of assists were his teammates more clinical in front of goal.
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSNeil Critchley tweaked his system for the visit of the champions, dropping Kenneth Vargas in favour of another body in midfield, and it paid dividends early on.
Hearts pinched possession in dangerous areas, limited Celtic's chances to a minimum, and really should have gone into half-time with at least a one-goal lead.
Blair Spittal appeared not to realise the space and time he had inside two minutes when he scuffed his effort into Kasper Schmeichel's grateful arms, and the industrious James Penrice carved out multiple opportunities down Hearts’ left flank.
He twice teed up Lawrence Shankland, who shot tamely wide before heading straight at Schmeichel.
They were the type of chances the Scotland striker took without thinking last season, but he is a player clearly short of confidence after scoring just once in all competitions this term.
You sensed Hearts would be punished for their profligacy and so it proved. The first defensive lapse of any kind resulted in the opening goal and Critchley's side never truly recovered.
Still, Critchley will take some positives despite the scoreline, not least Musa Drammeh, who displayed an eye for goal Hearts have sorely lacked in recent weeks.
Image source, SNSHearts: Gordon, Oyegoke, Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Devlin, Boateng, Baningime, Forrest, Spittal, Shankland.
Substitutes: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Grant, Dhanda, Wilson, Forrester, Musa, Vargas.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Kuhn, Maeda, Kyogo.
Substitutes: Sinisalo, Scales, Idah, Valle, McCowan, Bernardo, Forrest, Ralston.
"There is no contract on the table," says Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, with the striker adding "both the club and myself are comfortable where we're at." (Daily Record), external
Costa Rica forward Kenneth Vargas encountered a delay returning to Hearts from international duty and was not yet back in the country as of Friday lunchtime. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSHearts could welcome attacker Yutaro Oda back following a two-month lay-off but Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) is still not ready to be considered for selection.
Cameron Carter-Vickers will be back in the Celtic squad, with Odin Thiago Holm (calf) the champions' only absentee.
Image source, SNSMisfiring Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland believes his all-round game has improved and is confident the goals will soon follow.
Having netted 59 times in his first two years at the Edinburgh club, the 29-year-old Scotland international has just one goal this season amid Hearts' poor start.
"It's obviously been a difficult season in terms of as a collective," said Shankland.
"I think individually everybody's just pointing towards goals, which is obviously normal coming off the back of two really successful seasons that I had and scored so many.
"I'm in competition with myself with the amount of goals I'm scoring, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes not so good. I think you take a step back and look at the bigger picture in terms of my all-round game.
"I feel like it's been improving and things have been starting to come together. I don't really get judged on that, I understand that, but me personally, I know if I get my game to a level where I can feel that I'm playing well, the goals will eventually come again. It's not something I'm getting too caught up in looking at numbers.
"I've been here before in my career, I've came through it and I'm sitting here today. I will survive it and going forward hopefully the goals will start flowing again."
Image source, SNSHearts boss Neil Critchley has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to welcome Celtic on Saturday.
Here are the main points:
Critchley is "excited" about the partnership with Jamestown Analytics and insists it's "fantastic for the football club".
He adds: "It means we can use the knowledge and expertise in how we prepare for games, opposition analysis, how we look at our own performances post-match and also for recruitment which we hope will be beneficial for us."
Kenneth Vargas has yet to return from international duty but could still be included in Saturday's squad.
On the comments Vargas made to Costa Rican media, Critchley says: "I don’t want to go into too much detail until I've spoken to him one to one because I think that would be wrong."
The Hearts boss says Celtic are "the best team in Scottish football at this time" and is well aware of the "challenge in front" of his side.
But Critchley insists Hearts can "take confidence from recent performances" and adds: "If we are slightly better in certain areas of the pitch then we know we can pose Celtic problems."
We asked you what's the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to Hearts - good or bad.
Here's what some of you said:
Calum: Malachi Boateng, he's been a revelation in midfield and has gone overlooked as far as I can tell. Everyone focusses on Lawrence Shankland, Craig Gordon, Kenneth Vargas, managers, and the analytics at the moment.
Bob: Hearts recently secured a £7m loan to manage finances and repay debts, but also posted a £1.2m loss despite a £20m turnover. Rising costs and the lack of European group stage football last season have added financial strain. Since Hearts are not guaranteed European football every year we need to ensure financial stability regardless.
John: Why Steven Naismith was appointed manager in the first place? Nothing against the man, but he should never have been given the position last season and the fact that we're now second bottom of the league is completely down to the board for taking the cheapest and easiest option. Will they now admit to this and apologise to us long suffering fans?
Ian: No one seems to be talking about the absence of the first team-squad from the remembrance service at Haymarket. Even the club chaplain had a dig at their absence but I've not heard anyone talking about it since. The Rangers match was at 5pm so no excuse as far as I'm concerned. Who at the club made the decision on this matter? It's disgraceful.
Steve: How much money has this board cost the loyal fans with all the compensation paid for poor managerial appointments, relegation and failure to retain or sell millions of pounds worth of talent? For example, Josh Ginnelly, John Souttar and Shankland. They are so lucky the fans have backed the club unreservedly. Foundation of Hearts should be asking why and voting accordingly.
Watch again: Hearts defeat Celtic in VAR-laden clash
Celtic are unbeaten in 26 domestic games. The last Scottish team to beat them? Saturday's opponents, Hearts.
Back in early March, the Jambos prevailed 2-0 in a VAR-dominated contest in which Celtic missed a penalty and had Yang Hyun-jun controversially sent off before a Jorge Grant spot-kick and Lawrence Shankland strike secured victory for the hosts.
The drama wasn't finished there. Brendan Rodgers' post-match comments - the Celtic boss complained of "incompetence" from the match officials - earned him a one-game touchline ban.
Will Saturday night's encounter in Gorgie be similarly combustible?
When the fixtures were announced this will have been one of the games that Brendan Rodgers noticed. If he had known then it was going to be a Saturday evening game, he might have been even more fearful of it.
A raucous Tynecastle roaring on the third-best team in the country who had brought in some Premiership-proven talent in the summer was a game to take note of.
Instead it is almost top v bottom, with Hearts 22 points behind having played two games more.
The bare numbers suggest a stroll for the champions, but something says a noisy stadium and Neil Critchley getting two weeks training with his new players will make this a tricky game for the leaders.
Hearts pushed Rangers close at Ibrox last time out and taking the scalp of Celtic would be a big help in the Englishman convincing Jambos he is the right man for them.
A win for Hearts and other results going their way would see them move up to eighth and mean a very different atmosphere among fans and players.
And the squad knows how it feels, winning 2-0 in March last season. A repeat performance would be Hearts' first back-to-back home league wins against Celtic for the first time since 2006 under Valdas Ivanauskas.
Celtic having 13 players returning from international duty - with their Japan contingent facing long journeys - might help Hearts' cause.
That said, you would imagine Rodgers, armed with sports science data on his squad, will select according to fatigue levels and whatever 11 he fields will be strong.
They despatched Hearts in September at Celtic Park but the visitors had a first-half penalty award overturned after Lawrence Shankland's header came off Liam Scales' arm - so the story could have been different.
But then you remember Celtic have won all six of their away league games this season by an aggregate score of 18-1.
Read all the weekend Premiership picks
It's been an eventful season already for Hearts with a managerial change, domestic troubles and a new analytics deal.
While the club are well placed for European progress to the Conference League knockout rounds, they remain rooted in the lower reaches of the Premiership.
But what is the one thing regarding Hearts - good or bad - that no one is talking about?
After their 2-0 win in March last season, Hearts could win back-to-back home league meetings with Celtic for the first time since August 2006 under Valdas Ivanauskas.
Celtic have won both of their last two league meetings with Hearts without conceding. They last both won and kept a clean sheet three times in a row against the Jambos in the Scottish Premiership in May 2017 during Brendan Rodgers' first spell in charge.
Only Celtic (177) have recorded more pressed sequences in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hearts (162).
Celtic have won all six of their away league games this season by an aggregate score of 18-1. Only in 1957-58 (10), 1971-72 (9) and 2017-18 (7) have the Hoops ever won their opening seven away matches of a league campaign.
Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn has been directly involved in 21 shots following a ball carry (10 shots, 11 chances created) in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most of any player. Indeed, his total carry distance of 2,087 metres is the most of any non-defender in the competition this term.
Image source, SNSAngus Beith has been appointed Hearts B team head coach, succeeding Liam Fox.
Former Tynecastle midfielder and youth coach Beith became B team assistant in the summer and had been filling in as interim boss in recent weeks following Fox's promotion to Neil Critchley's first-teaming coaching staff.
The 28-year-old, who was forced to retire from playing five years ago at age 23 because of injury, now takes the reins on a permanent basis, with Hearts B currently 13th in the Lowland League.
"I have a good relationship with the squad having coached many of them at youth level and that familiarity has only heightened after working closely with them this season," Beith said.
“I feel well placed to know what it takes to make the transition from youth sides into the first team, having made that same journey myself as a young player.
"My focus now is helping these players to reach their potential and I will put everything into it."
We asked for your views on Hearts' eye-catching data deal with Jamestown Analytics.
Here's what some of you said:
William: If this makes us more competitive in the future, then I'm all for it.
Steve: The link-up is exciting and I hope we identify promising prospects within our budget. My concern is we still have Andrew McKinlay involved around the selection process, his track record for appointing managers, renegotiation of contracts, or failure to do so is very poor. Take him out of the process and immediately extend Frankie Kent's contract.
Kj: The proof of the pudding, we are now entering the Moneyball phase of football.
Derek: It's a good looking deal, but the proof will be in the quality of players that are brought in and where they take us. We've not got huge coffers of cash, but if analytics can help us spend that wisely then I'm all for it! Not sure about the investment deal, but let's see how it goes - and as long as we remain fan-owned, I won't worry too much.
Peter: It appears on the surface to be a good decision and worth a try. Recruitment is crucial to success and selling players on at a profit and not buying square pegs for round holes is essential to balancing the books.
Anon: Call me 'old misery guts' but I'm a tad sceptical about all this. Sounds too good to be true. I remain to me convinced.
Andrew: I am not convinced this is going to prove beneficial as I am still bewildered that the managerial change has never been fully explained. What was the rationale behind the decision and how was this analysis interpreted by the board? However, I do acknowledge the team's performance has improved since the new appointment.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
With the international breaks now over for this year the full focus now is on club football at both domestic and European levels.
And between now and when the bells ring out the end of 2024 Hearts will be involved in matches that will have a major impact on how this season will eventually looked upon.
First of all Celtic will be the visitors to Tynecastle on Saturday night (I know that sounds strange) and if there is a good time to take on the champions it does appear this may well be it.
After the first international break this season Hearts travelled to Celtic Park and it was only a late Luke McCowan goal that sealed all three points for the home side.
Then in October Celtic were again at home and Aberdeen forced their way back to snatch a point after trailing 2-0 at half-time.
However, whenever you play Celtic you know things have to go your way. They have a squad full of players who know how to win, even when not at their best.
After Celtic it's a trip to face Cercle Brugge with the focus potential progression in the Conference League.
Given the performances so far, and despite the home defeat to Heidenheim, there should be plenty of optimism heading to Belgium.
But first things first and full focus should now be on how to stop Celtic. Sitting just one point above bottom club Hibs having played a game more is simply not good enough for Hearts and needs to be rectified sooner rather than later.
Discussions over a possible £10m investment continue between Hearts and Brighton owner Tony Bloom after the Edinburgh club confirmed a partnership with his analysis firm Jamestown Analytics. (Scotsman), external
Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
Hearts will "reap the benefits" of an analytics service with a reputation that is "second to none" in football, says chief executive officer Andrew McKinlay.
The Tynecastle club have confirmed they have signed an agreement with Jamestown Analytics, who have enjoyed success working with Brighton, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Como.
The firm are the by-product of the company Starlizard, who are owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.
Hearts revealed the partnership means they become Scotland's "exclusive users" of the data service, which the Gorgie club say "will aid not only player recruitment but will also enhance opposition analysis".
"Jamestown Analytics’ reputation in footballing circles is second to none," McKinlay added.
"It is no understatement when I say they have made ground-breaking progress with clubs across Europe, so to be Scotland's sole beneficiaries of their expertise is truly exciting.
"I fully believe the club will reap the benefits of embracing this modern, innovative approach to analytics and we couldn't be prouder to be associated with Jamestown Analytics as we take Hearts into a new era."
Meanwhile, Justin Said, managing director of Jamestown Analytics, is eyeing more success with the player data analytics service.
"We are very selective about the clubs we want to work with and we feel that Hearts is a good fit," he said.
Hearts fans, what do make of it all? Send us your thoughts..., external
Image source, SNS
Hearts are exploring options to sign a forward in the January transfer window. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external
Image source, SNSThe unassuming James Penrice would likely agree his arrival at Hearts in the summer was not greeted with the same fervour as some of his new team-mates.
However, few have injected some much-needed positivity around Gorgie like the former Livingston defender.
A consistent performer and attacking threat down the left, the 25-year-old has made a steady start to life in the capital.
He's not settling for steady spell, though. Penrice wants his time at Hearts to be special. He wants it to be "remembered".
"I want the club to do so well," he told HeartsTV. "I don't want to come into Hearts and remember, when I finish my career, a time that wasn't successful. I want it to be a successful time. I want it to be remembered when I leave."
There's not been a lot to write home about on the domestic front so far this season, with Hearts currently second bottom in the Premiership, but Penrice doesn't think it's all doom and gloom down Gorgie.
"We just need to go and put a good run of form together," he added.
"It's just that last bit that we've not seemed to crack yet, and I think you saw it against St Mirren. We were brilliant, but maybe at Rangers last time out, we should probably have walked away with something more.
"That's telling for us going to a place like Ibrox. There should be no fear because we're a big club and we want to go to these places and and take points.”
Should he and Hearts start picking up points in Glasgow, one of his goals - representing his country - might just be achieved.
"Playing for Scotland is one of my dreams and I see no reason why I can't," he said.
"I think it'll be definitely difficult, it'll be more hard work, but that's one of my aims."
Greg Playfair
Fan writer
During the International break you expect things to be quiet in and around your club, but that's not been the case for Hearts over the past week.
Our women's side lost the Edinburgh derby 1-0 to Hibs at Tynecastle on Sunday to slip four points behind SWPL leaders Glasgow City.
Losing to your city rivals would usually be the lowest point in any Jambo's week, but some are still up in arms at forward Kenneth Vargas' comments to Costa Rican media.
It was reported Vargas said he is exploring the opportunity to leave Gorgie in January and also panned the level of Scottish football.
There has been a good chunk of Hearts fans voicing their condemnation of the diminutive forward and quite a few who said they'd be happy to drive Vargas to Edinburgh Airport to help quicken his departure.
I have no bones to pick with any player who has aspirations of achieving 'bigger and better things'. I can't say I'm shocked a Central American harbours ambitions of playing in stadia like the Bernabeu, Allianz Arena and Anfield as opposed to the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall. Vargas didn't dream of playing a 15-year career at Tynecastle like every Jambo did.
The problem Vargas has is he's not good enough to play in a top five European league, as he admitted in his own statement on social media. There are legitimate questions about whether he's good enough for the Scottish top flight and Vargas must harness his efforts in consistency producing goals and assists.
It will be interesting to see if Neil Critchley opts to give Vargas the opportunity to win back favour of supporters by starting him in Saturday night's clash with Celtic at Tynecastle.
Playing Brendan Rodgers' side at any point in the season is never easy but is this potentially the best opportunity following the near fortnight gap between games following the international break?
Hearts had the nucleus of our squad together over the last couple of weeks, with the exception of Lawrence Shankland, Craig Gordon and Vargas. Compare that to Celtic, who have had the majority of their squad away travelling around the world.
I'm hoping Critchley will have utilised that extra preparation time wisely and is able to conjure something Celtic aren't prepared for. Whether that's a fast start, a surprising name in the starting 11 or perhaps even a tactical tweak – we need to do something different to take something from this game.
Jane Lewis and Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSFew who watched Scotland take on Finland in their final friendly before Euro 2024 would have thought Craig Gordon would be one of the stars in the Nations League campaign.
The veteran goalkeeper, who had been omitted from the Euros squad, came off the bench at Hampden for his 75th cap and what seemed to be his Scotland swansong.
But Gordon has made a career out of defying the odds.
He always said he'd fight his way back into Steve Clarke's thoughts, and while injury to Angus Gunn opened the door, he has flourished since reclaiming the starting spot.
Some big saves in Scotland's last-gasp win over Poland Warsaw ensured a relegation play-off come March, but will the then 42-year-old Gordon be game?
"I think I'm just quite lucky, the Hearts keeper said. "Let's see if I can still be here in March at 42 to have another couple of games, and then hopefully try and stay at this level.
"I still have the motivation of course, that never goes away, and just as long as I can keep my body in good shape then I give myself an opportunity.
"It's brilliant that I'm still at this level, and hopefully we can stay in Group A which would be a huge achievement. I'd love to try and still be part of it.
"There's a lot of hard work to be done between now and March to stay at this level and make sure that I'm fit enough to be able to do that."
Gordon's performance in Warsaw was all the more impressive considering he felt ill in the build-up.
"Yeah I was struggling, even in the warm-up," he added.
"But I was determined to give it go a go. It was a struggle but I managed to get through it. I don't really know how, I think just when you get out there, instinct takes over and you just play the game."
