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Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish top flight to strengthen their early-season championship claims and deepen the struggles around Brendan Rodgers' side.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and a spot-kick from Shankland gave Derek McInnes' side a two-goal advantage that the title holders could not recover from.

Dane Murray - among three youth players in the Celtic starting lineup - scored an own goal in the early stages to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the penalty.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized the first goal, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Celtic in front, choosing placement over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to hand Celtic to successive league defeats for the initial occasion since 2023.

It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the top of the table.

The last time they were this far ahead was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ended as runners-up - one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title after building such an advantage in the past 27 years.

The Hearts coach, whose former team were runners-up to the champions 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 perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on the weekend's performance, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.

Match Analysis: Hearts Capitalize of Weakened The Visitors

Hearts started with the self-assurance of a side undefeated in the league this season - the popular attacker delivered a ball for Shankland to fire off target.

The Glasgow team didn't aid their cause with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they faltered under their first real examination.

A headed effort from Braga was tipped onto the woodwork by the Celtic keeper and Shankland's return ball was turned into the net 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 square for the captain, who slotted home.

Aside from the Nygren chance, Celtic found it hard to generate chances for striker Kenny or his substitute Yamada amid the unavailability of injured forwards their key strikers.

Hearts regained their intensity and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. The Greek forward, 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 substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

The visitors' performance after the break was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving big-money recruit Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in sharp opposition to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then booked for a professional foul.

Post-Match Comments

The Hearts manager: "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. Some of the new signings are keen to demonstrate their quality.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's crucial for us to keep winning. We've got loads to do, plenty to improve. After the first two rounds is typically a benchmark of your standing."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they ought to be caught offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Obviously, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The positive is there's so many games to play.

"Our attention must turn on the here and now and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play."

Upcoming Fixtures for Both Sides?

The Glasgow club are back at home on midweek against promoted side Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the identical hour in the Scottish Premiership, the Edinburgh outfit are at their opponents' ground.

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