Edinburgh | Hearts dreaming of a title in May

Hearts 3 - 1 Celtic

Relentless Hearts moved eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, adding to the growing unease surrounding Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Author | Jamie P

Stadium | Tynecastle

A sharp finish from Alexandros Kyziridis and a Lawrence Shankland penalty provided the foundation for a 3-1 victory that left the champions with too much to do.

Dane Murray, one of three young players in the Celtic line-up, inadvertently put Hearts ahead with an early own goal in front of a buoyant Tynecastle crowd. The 22-year-old then conceded the penalty that restored the hosts’ lead.

Callum McGregor had earlier struck his first goal of the season with typical poise to bring Celtic level, while Benjamin Nygren passed up a fine chance to give Rodgers’ team the advantage, choosing subtlety over force and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make the save.

Hearts, though, found their rhythm once more, securing a result that hands Celtic back-to-back league defeats for the first time since 2023 and leaves the Edinburgh side firmly in command at the summit.

A Rolls Royce of a result 🚗 pic.twitter.com/LoVOsFUx2n

— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) October 26, 2025

Not since 2005-06, under George Burley, have Hearts held such a cushion. They finished runners-up that year, one of only four instances in the past 27 seasons when a team has failed to convert a position of such strength into the title.

Derek McInnes continues to dismiss any talk of trophies, mindful that Hearts have not lifted the top prize since 1960. Rodgers, for his part, has experienced both smooth and troubled starts during his time in Glasgow, but has always managed to finish top.

On this evidence, Hearts look determined to pose the sternest challenge yet.

Hearts seized their opportunity against a depleted Celtic side

The home side started the match with the confidence expected of a team unbeaten in the league. Alexandros Kyziridis, a firm favourite among the home support, threaded a cross towards Lawrence Shankland, who stabbed narrowly wide in the early stages.

Celtic contributed to their own problems, guilty of a rare looseness in possession, and they faltered under the first sustained spell of pressure. Claudio Braga’s header struck the post via Kasper Schmeichel’s fingertips and, when Shankland recycled the ball, Dane Murray could only divert it into his own net while deputising for the injured Cameron Carter Vickers.

Rodgers’ team gradually found their feet, finally piecing together the sort of passing combinations that have long been their hallmark. One such move saw Sebastian Tounekti slide the ball to Kieran Tierney, whose square pass allowed Callum McGregor to calmly level.

Yet beyond Benjamin Nygren’s close-range effort, Celtic were short of inspiration. Injuries to Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda left Jonny Kenny and later Shin Yamada feeding off scraps against a well-organised Hearts defence.

The hosts rediscovered their intensity, attacking with width and confidence across the final third. Kyziridis, a standout from the club’s data-driven recruitment link with shareholder Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics, fired accurately past Schmeichel from distance.

Moments later, Murray brought down Braga inside the channel and Shankland dispatched the penalty. The margin might have grown wider, but Kasper Schmeichel denied substitute Ageu late on.

For Celtic, the second half offered little comfort. Arne Engels, the club’s record signing, sent a free kick wildly off target, a far cry from his midweek display in Europe, before collecting a yellow card for a cynical challenge that summed up a trying afternoon.