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We did not witness at their home ground, since it's far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts possess a real strong chance of ending Scottish football's 40-year stranglehold. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over the visitors, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.

Turning Point in the Latter Period

Three second-half minutes were key, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. It was remarkable after they extended their advantage was how comfortable the remainder of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger scored Hearts’ second, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the static the Celtic keeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling Cláudio Braga for a penalty that the captain tucked away. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; his problems are mounting.

Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against the opposition.

Celtic's Response

Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who had a difficult day, conceded an own goal due to confusion when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, turning home a Tierney cutback for the equaliser.

Stubborn Defence

The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the noise.

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