🔗 Share this article Rampant Hearts Overpower Disappointing Celtic to Move Eight Points in Front Lawrence Shankland secured Hearts' statement win Match summary Hearts' attacking duo secure victory for the hosts and propel them eight points clear at the top Celtic's McGregor cancelled out the early own goal by Dane Murray Hearts extend 13 league matches unbeaten for the first occasion in over two decades The dominant Edinburgh side surged eight points clear of their Glasgow rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership to strengthen their early-season title credentials and deepen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers' side. Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and a spot-kick from Shankland gave the Hearts team a 3-1 lead that the title holders could not overcome. Dane Murray - one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI - scored an own goal in the early stages to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the spot-kick. Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop. But the unstoppable Hearts side regained dominance to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since last year. It also gives the Hearts a commanding advantage at the top of the table. The last time they were this far ahead was in the 2005-2006 season under their former manager, when they ultimately finished second - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years. McInnes, whose former team were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to downplay title talk, as the club seek their maiden league title since the 1960s. Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic - 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 deserve serious consideration. Match Analysis: Hearts Take Advantage of Weakened The Visitors The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for the striker to fire off target. The Glasgow team didn't aid their cause with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination. Claudio Braga's header was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers. The away side found their rhythm and started building moves. From a flowing attack, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to set up the captain, who slotted home. Apart from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the unavailability of stricken attackers Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda. The home team regained their intensity and versatility in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, a standout performer of the club's relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics, struck low past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. Immediately after, the defender tripped the midfielder in the inside right channel and the penalty taker converted. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had replacement Ageu not been denied by the shot-stopper. Celtic's second half was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles. The set-piece from Engles delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a cynical foul. Post-Match Comments Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "You see how hard the players work, the team spirit. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out. "Our strength lies in, is skillful players. You're witnessing it from multiple individuals who have been here previously. Recent additions are keen to demonstrate their quality. "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 much work ahead, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of where you are." The Celtic boss: "The second goal was disappointing from our perspective. We didn't move when the ball went back as a defensive unit so when they pass the ball, they should have players offside but didn't. We have got to do better with the attempt. "There's still so many points to play for. It's only the beginning. It's only nine games in. Clearly, being eight points behind is not ideal. 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 better performance in our play." Upcoming Fixtures for These Teams? The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the top division, Hearts are at St Mirren. Player of the Match Number: 89 A. Kyziridis Player rating 8.65 Team Player Scores Jersey: 89 Alexandros Kyziridis - Score: 8.65 Number: 9 L. Shankland - Score: 8.40 Jersey: 4 C. Halkett - Score: 8.30 Number: 10 Braga - Score: 8.27 Jersey: 14 Cameron Devlin - Score: 8.22 Number: 6 Beni Baningime - Score: 8.16 Number: 19 S. Findlay - Score: 8.07 Number: 3 S. Kingsley - Average Rating: 8.06 Jersey: 18 Harry Milne - Average Rating: 8.05 Jersey: 25 A. Schwolow - Average Rating: 8.04 Jersey: 31 O. McEntee - Average Rating: 7.74 Number: 40 Ageu - Average Rating: 7.35 Jersey: 7 Eliezer Kabangu - Average Rating: 7.22 Jersey: 22 T. Magnússon - Average Rating: 7.05 Jersey: 15 Maximilian Steinwender - Score: 7.01 Jersey: 5 J. McCart - Average Rating: 6.82 Celtic Player Scores Jersey: 42 C. McGregor - Average Rating: 4.02 Jersey: 1 Kasper Schmeichel - Score: 3.85 Jersey: 63 Kieran Tierney - Average Rating: 3.68 Number: 23 S. Tounekti - Average Rating: 3.56 Number: 5 L. Scales - Score: 3.43 Number: 51 Cillian Donovan - Score: 3.34 Number: 8 Benjamin Nygren - Average Rating: 3.28 Number: 27 Arne Engels - Average Rating: 3.24 Jersey: 49 James Forrest - Average Rating: 3.10 Number: 14 Liam McCowan - Score: 3.09 Jersey: 41 R. Hatate - Score: 3.05 Number: