🔗 Share this article Dominant Hearts Defeat Struggling The Hoops to Extend 8 Pts Clear Lawrence Shankland secured the team's emphatic victory Match summary Hearts' attacking duo earn Hearts win and propel them eight ahead at summit Callum McGregor equalized early Murray own goal Hosts extend 13 league matches without defeat for first time in 27 years The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of Celtic at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early title credentials and worsen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side. A superb goal from Kyziridis and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not recover from. Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic starting lineup - slashed into his own net early on 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 swiftly equalized Hearts' opener, and the Swedish attacker almost put Celtic in front, choosing placement over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to save from close range. But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to hand the visitors to back-to-back losses for the first time since 2023. It also gives the Hearts a significant lead at the top of the table. The previous occasion they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second - a rare instance that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the last three decades. McInnes, whose former team were second to Celtic on multiple times, has been at pains to play down championship discussions, as Hearts seek their maiden league title since 1960. The Celtic boss has seen it all before at the club - both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He's never ended as runner-up. But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they need to be taken seriously. Match Analysis: Hearts Take Advantage of Weakened 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 stab wide. Celtic didn't aid their cause with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they buckled under their initial test. Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net by the unfortunate Murray, in for the absent center-back. Celtic found their rhythm and started building moves. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for McGregor, who slotted home. Aside from the Nygren chance, the visitors struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers their key strikers. The home team regained their intensity and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's scouting network, struck low past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. Immediately after, Murray tripped Braga in the right side of the box and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been denied by the shot-stopper. The visitors' performance after the break was partially encapsulated in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles. The set-piece from Engles delivery was in sharp opposition to his European display in the continental victory over Sturm Graz and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a professional foul. Post-Match Comments The Hearts manager: "The effort from the squad is evident, the togetherness. That's not always enough to win games consistently. "Our strength lies in, is good technical ability. You're seeing that from a lot of players who have been here before. Some of the new signings 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 maintain this form. 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 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 attempt. "Plenty of matches to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. 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 more quality in our play." What's Next for Both Sides? Celtic are returning to their stadium on midweek against newly-promoted Falkirk (19:45 GMT). At the same time in the top division, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground. Player of the Match Number: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis Player rating 8.65 Hearts Player Scores Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65 Jersey: 9 L. Shankland - Score: 8.40 Number: 4 C. Halkett - Average Rating: 8.30 Number: 10 Cláudio Braga - Average Rating: 8.27 Number: 14 C. Devlin - Score: 8.22 Jersey: 6 Beni Baningime - Average Rating: 8.16 Number: 19 S. Findlay - Score: 8.07 Number: 3 S. Kingsley - Average Rating: 8.06 Number: 18 Harry Milne - Score: 8.05 Number: 25 A. Schwolow - Score: 8.04 Jersey: 31 O. McEntee - Score: 7.74 Jersey: 40 Ageu - Score: 7.35 Jersey: 7 E. Kabangu - Score: 7.22 Number: 22 T. Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05 Number: 15 Maximilian Steinwender - Average Rating: 7.01 Jersey: 5 J. McCart - Score: 6.82 Visitors Ratings Jersey: 42 Callum McGregor - Average Rating: 4.02 Jersey: 1 K. Schmeichel - Score: 3.85 Number: 63 K. Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68 Number: 23 Sebastian Tounekti - Score: 3.56 Number: 5 Liam Scales - Average Rating: 3.43 Jersey: 51 Cillian Donovan - Average Rating: 3.34 Jersey: 8 Benjamin Nygren - Score: 3.28 Jersey: 27 Arne Engels - Score: 3.24 Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10 Jersey: 14 L. McCowan - Score: 3.09 Number: 41 Reo Hatate - Score: 3.05 Number: