Celtic 0 Hearts 2: Instant reaction as vistors seal statement win

First-half goals from Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley put Hearts in the driving seat at Parkhead, and the visitors defended steadfastly thereafter to secure an impressive three points that lifts Hearts to third place.

Here are six talking points from a mightily encouraging afternoon for the men in maroon. 

Naismith’s men show their steel

Not since 2007 had a Hearts side travelled to Celtic Park and returned home along the M8 with three points in tow, and few would have predicted a victory for the visitors before a ball was kicked this afternoon. Naismith’s team came into the game having lost back-to-back league encounters with Rangers and Aberdeen, with key personnel missing in midfield through injury, at a venue that has been merciless and unaccommodating.

History and the form book would have told you that Hearts had no chance in Glasgow’s east end but as we all know, football can be a funny old game. If the 700-or-so Hearts fans that made the journey through from Edinburgh were in dreamland when  Shankland opened the scoring early on at Parkhead, then they were left pinching themselves in disbelief when Kingsley rifled in a long-range free-kick to give the visitors an invaluable two-goal lead.

Hearts would need to defend their lead, though – and boy, would they do just that. Zander Clark was called into action on a few occasions but the 32-year-old successfully kept Celtic at bay, while Kingsley denied Luis Palma a certain goal with a superb last-gasp block as the game approached half-time. It was an example of the battling qualities that have been absent from this Hearts side on occasion this term – and the defensive solidity on show against the champions must serve as the bar going forward.

James Cairney

Hearts’ happy habit

After waiting for months to see a Hearts player find the net from an attacking set-piece, supporters are quickly becoming accustomed to the sight. Shankland’s opening goal on 15 minutes, a near carbon-copy of his header at Pittodrie last week, was Hearts’ third goal from a corner in their past six outings.

The captain was once again aided by some slack defending from the home side – the striker was mystifyingly left unmarked at the corner kick and didn’t even have to jump to steer the ball home – but Hearts’ newfound proficiency from dead-ball situations is proving to be a sizeable string to the team’s bow, particularly on the road. Naismith’s men have broken the deadlock from corner kicks in three of their last four away games now, and it is becoming a happy habit.

Corners and indirect free-kicks are one thing, but direct shots at goal from dead-ball situations are another entirely. Hearts hadn’t scored a direct free-kick this season before Kingsley put that particular hoodoo to bed in spectacular fashion in Glasgow’s east end, slamming the ball into the top corner from 30 yards out – his first free-kick goal in well over a year.

Attacking set-pieces used to be a point of contention with this Hearts side – but they are quickly becoming one of the most lethal weapons in the team’s attacking arsenal.

James Cairney

A Rowles-Royce performance

Callum McGregor burst forward from the midfield and slid a pass behind the Hearts defence for Daizen Maeda to run onto. Heats were in danger. A surprisingly rare occurrence in the first hour at Celtic Park. But seemingly out of nowhere Kye Rowles glided across, got his body between ball and man and thwarted the attack. 

The Australian was one of a number of fantastic individual performances. You could go through the whole team but his display was one Hearts fans saw on the biggest stage, at the World Cup against France and Argentina. Performances which had supporters rubbing their hands at the prospect of how much he was going to net the club in profits. The long-term deal the club tied him to was welcomed. After returning from the World Cup, however, his performances became inconsistent and he struggled with the physical side of the game. This season he has been more consistent and it was leading to his role in Hearts’ win at Celtic Park. These types of games should suit him where he is required to use his sweeping qualities, to read the game and make sure his positioning was spot on. On the rare occasions it wasn’t, Frankie Kent was there to make sure any loose ball was dealt with. 

A… Rowles-Royce performance.

Joel Sked

READ MORE: Steven Naismith outlines areas of Hearts display that impressed him in Celtic win

The kids are all right

This was always going to be a big afternoon for Aidan Denholm, and the youngster seized his opportunity with gusto. With Calem Nieuwenhof, Cammy Devlin and Alex Lowry sidelined through injury, Naismith found himself short of options in the middle as the Hearts head coach turned to Denholm to fill the hole in the starting XI.

The 20-year-old didn't disappoint though, more than holding his own against some of the top midfielders the Premiership has to offer. Naturally, Brendan Rodgers' side dominated the ball, with Hearts being made to work hard off it. Denholm was industrious out of possession as he chased after and harried his opponents, while displaying a composure on the ball that belied his tender years. When he was subbed off with 25 minutes to play, he could reflect on a productive afternoon's work.

It was also a big afternoon for Macaulay Tait, Denholm's fellow academy graduate who came off the bench at Parkhead on 84 minutes to make his senior debut. A consistent performer for Hearts B, it was encouraging to see the 18-year-old handed an opportunity in such a big game. The pathway to the first team for Hearts' homegrown talent hasn't always been the easiest to traverse, but there have been some encouraging steps in the right direction this season. 

James Cairney

A grand day out

You looked up to the Celtic scoreboard. Ten minutes gone and it was a case of ‘that’s comfortable opening, that is’. Hearts settled straight away. Not only was it a confidence builder for the away side but it sucked out what energy there was in the home fans. This was a fan base not needing much to get agitated. There was no Green Brigade to set the tone. The home atmosphere was more akin to a plastic Premier League build-up. There were silenced by Hearts’ opening. 

That continued, only finding their voice to voice their displeasure. Initially it was at Kevin Clancy. Hearts were aggressive in the way they approached their opponents, epitomised by Alex Cochrane hunting and then suffocating Mikey Johnston. Those soft decisions the home crowd are so used to getting weren’t forthcoming. Hearts were getting them instead. A pleasant change. 

Hearts deserved so much credit for the way they approached the game for turning the atmosphere from getting behind their own team to being on top of them. Joe Hart was lambasted for punching rather than catching in either half. Johnston was lambasted for everything he did. When his substitution was announced at half-time it was met by huge cheers. When Hart caught the ball it was met by ironic cheers. Then the sack the board chants came. From Celtic fans. There was a disturbance in the main stand amongst the home support. Peter Lawell was told where to go in no uncertain terms. Amongst it all there was a VAR check for a possibly handball which would have been given to Celtic. It wasn’t. With seven minutes to go, the away support started singing ‘this is so f—king easy’

This was just the perfect afternoon with a perfect Hearts performance.

Joel Sked

Hearts show they can punch up

Supporters have been waiting for a statement performance under Naismith, and they finally got it on Saturday. The victories over Rosenborg and Aberdeen earlier in the season were satisfying and well-won, but it is hard to ignore the fact that Naismith’s side have struggled to punch above their weight class this term. The comprehensive two-legged defeat to PAOK, the 4-1 humbling at home to Celtic, the three losses to Rangers – all too often, Hearts have struggled to raise their game when facing teams of a higher calibre.

That wasn’t the case at Parkhead, though. Naismith’s men went up against one of the big boys and left them with a bloody nose, and the importance of such a win cannot be underplayed. Taking points off of the Old Firm is a must for any team harboring ambitions of claiming third place, and this was another sizeable step forward for Naismith’s Hearts.

James Cairney