Hearts 2-0 Celtic: Hosts win to prevent visitors going top

Lawrence Shankland brushed off the disappointment of a disallowed first-half goal to cap a fine display with this goal

Hearts beat 10-man Celtic in a VAR-dominated encounter to prevent the defending champions returning to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

The visitors’ Adam Idah had an early penalty saved and Brendan Rodgers’ side soon found themselves depleted.

Yang Hyun-jun was initially booked for a high boot on Alex Cochrane but it was upgraded to a red card on review.

Jorge Grant put the hosts in front from a VAR-awarded spot-kick before team-mate Lawrence Shankland had a goal ruled out for offside.

But Shankland’s second-half effort did count and ensured Celtic remain two points behind Rangers, whose loss at home to Motherwell on Saturday had opened the door for Rodgers’ team.

Hearts, with successive 2-0 wins over Celtic this season, bolster their position in third, restoring a 13-point lead over St Mirren.

And for the first time in six years, both halves of the Old Firm have suffered league defeats on the same weekend.

Rodgers described the officiating as “really poor” and counterpart Steven Naismith felt both penalties were “soft”.

While Celtic were without captain Callum McGregor, nursing an Achilles strain, they started brightly and the first flashpoint between Yang and Cochrane came on 11 minutes.

The in-form Celtic winger got in behind the Hearts defender and was tripped, prompting referee Don Robertson’s first big call of the day. Idah, after three goals in two games, stepped up and struck down the middle only for Zander Clark to sweep away with his feet.

And then, midway inside the Hearts half, Yang’s elevated foot appeared to catch Cochrane’s shoulder, resulting in a quick flash of the yellow card by Robertson. However, the referee was advised to give the challenge a second look and Yang’s game was over after 16 minutes.

There was little let-up in the first-half drama as Matt O’Riley netted via both posts, only for Idah’s offside earlier in the move to cut short the Celtic celebrations.

And VAR was once again involved in the next twist as Tomoki Iwata’s contact with a falling ball was reviewed. Iwata and team-mate Alistair Johnston leapt together with Stephen Kingsley and the ball appeared to strike Iwata’s outstretched arm.

Captain Shankland, who netted from the spot against Hibernian in midweek, stepped aside for Grant to send the ball firmly into the net to Joe Hart’s right.

Iwata’s day threatened to go from bad to worse as he was robbed by Beni Baningime and Alan Forrest played in Shankland to net. But Iwata was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the striker had gone a little too early as Liam Scales held his defensive line.

The eight added minutes alone told a story about just how eventful the first half had been. When the teams reappeared, Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi was on in place of Paulo Bernardo.

The pace of the game dropped and Hearts reverted to a patient approach to eke out an opening. It duly arrived when Calem Nieuwenhof slipped in the inside right channel but somehow managed to tee up Shankland for a smart finish – a 27th goal of the season.

Celtic needed something and almost found the net when Kyogo connected with O’Riley’s low ball, Clark making another astute save.

The goalkeeper had further says in proceedings as he denied Idah from close range after Kyogo’s enterprising run and then again after the former got in behind the Hearts defence.

Player of the match – Zander Clark

Like club and international team-mate Shankland, Clark showed his best in full view of Scotland manager Steve Clarke in the stand

Hearts back on song, Celtic hopes far from over – analysis

One-nil down to Motherwell at half-time last Sunday, Celtic faced the prospect of being five points behind Rangers. Ten goals in 135 minutes later and Rodgers’ side travelled to Edinburgh aiming to be top.

The missed penalty and Yang’s dismissal changed the nature of their task and VAR continues to add unpredictability – and controversy – to the Scottish game.

Striker Kyogo’s introduction for a midfielder showed ambition and the revamped attack would have registered but for Clark’s alertness.

Celtic’s title destiny remains in their own hands with two meetings against Rangers still to be played this term.

Hearts’ impressive league season hit a major speed bump with last weekend’s 5-0 defeat at Ibrox and a draw at home to city rivals Hibs in midweek could only partially raise their spirits.

This victory, a second win over Celtic in a league season for the first time since 2006-07, gets their campaign firmly back on track with third all but secure and a Scottish Cup run still ongoing.

What the managers said

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: “I’m happy – happy with a professional, good performance. We controlled a lot of the game. We continued to create chances. The way the game played out, every moment and every turning point that could’ve been, we dealt with it perfectly.

“[For Celtic’s penalty] Alex plants his foot and the ground and the forward has kicked him. Credit to Zander, who had a really good game when he needed to. The [red card] decision’s right because other red cards that are similar have been given as red cards.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “Credit to my players because they kept going and fighting until the very end. We had a good start, get the penalty, don’t take the opportunity.

“However, the overall game is influenced by the officials. I never come and speak about officials because I understand we all make mistakes, we’re all human, but it felt like really poor officiating today.”

What’s next?

The Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Holders Celtic host fellow top-flight side Livingston next Sunday (14:30 GMT) with Hearts away to second-tier Greenock Morton the following evening (19:45) on BBC Scotland.