Hearts Stun Celtic With Fine Home Display
A fine performance from Heart of Midlothian saw the Macklin Motors-backed side bounce back to winning ways with victory at home to title-chasing Celtic.
The Edinburgh side had failed to win the previous two games after defeat to Rangers was followed by a draw with Hibs in the derby, and a difficult afternoon lay ahead as Celtic looked for a victory that would move them back to the top of the table.
The visitors had a chance to take the lead on eleven minutes when Alex Cochrane was judged to have fouled Yang Hyun-Jun in the box, but Zander Clark was able to deny Adam Idah with his feet when the resultant penalty was fired down the middle of the goal.
Celtic were then reduced to ten men when Yang was sent off after a VAR check for a foul on Cochrane but still looked to have hit the front when a shot from Matt O’Riley nestled in the net after bouncing off both posts.
The goal was ruled out for an off-side in the build-up and then just before half-time, further intervention from VAR saw the home side handed a penalty after a handball in the box.
Jorge Grant stepped up to beat Joe Hart from the spot and give the home side the lead, and it got better moments later when Hearts won the ball in midfield and Alan Forrest played in Lawrence Shankland to make it two.
Elation turned to despair however when VAR again intervened to rule the goal out for offside, and Hearts would be forced to wait until just before the hour mark when Calem Nieuwenhof set up Shankland to slide the ball beyond Hart.
This time, the goal would stand to leave Hearts with all three points as the Jambos strengthened their hold on third in the table ahead of a return to Scottish Cup action against Greenock Morton.
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