22nd October 2022 Hearts 3 Celtic 4

At last getting back to Tynecastle for the first time since 28th August. Have. Issa four home games in the interim footprint the first time since 1967. With the game live on Sky kickoff was early at 12.30 so had an early lunch at 11.15 for heading to Tynecastle around 11.40. Got to the ground around 12.00 and scanned my season ticket to get it. This was the first game at Tynecastle with VAR in place and two new screens were in place at the Main Stand and the Wheatfield stand so fans would have information on what was happening. Before the kickoff the screens showed Hearts goals from previous games against Celtic including the semi final in the Scottish Cup when Rudi Skacel  and Craig Beattie both scored. They also showed Austin McCanns only goal for Hearts which defeated Celtic in 2003. 

Hearts had ten players out with injuries earlier this week although thankfully both Michael Smith and Josh Ginnelly recovered sufficiently to make the starting lineup. It was also a chance for me to see Steve Humphrys, Robert Snodgrass and Orestis Kiomourtzoglou(Kio) play  for Hearts for the first time. Humphrys is on loan from Wigan, Snodgrass was a free agent after his contract with Luton expired  and Kio was signed from Dutch side Heracles Almelo BV. The Celtic side was a complete change from the Last few seasons. With captain Callum McGregor out injured only James Forrest would have been in the side over the last few seasons. Manager Ange Pistecoglou has rebuilt his side over the last year and a half with a number of new players brought in including several from the Japanese leagues.

Hearts started well and Michael Smith sent an excellent ball across the goal but Barrie McKays shot was well saved by Joe Hart n the Celtic goal. Snodgrass then forced another save from Her after running onto a though ball from Kio. Celtic however took the lead after fourteen minutes. A cross from Anthony Ralston was deflected into the air by the sliding KIo and James Forrest headed into an empty goal to put Celtic ahead. Smith then sent a cross towards Humphreys who headed down before his shot was deflected away for a fruitless corner. After thirty-nine minutes Humphreys was forced of with a leg injury and Lawrence Shankland came on as his replacement. As the game moved into Injury time Cammy Devlin was clearly fouled by Celtics Cameron Carter-Vickers as he charged into the penalty box. For some reason referee Nick Walsh ignored the penalty appeals until a VAR challenge forced him to reconsider. After a long wait he checked the video screen and awarded Hearts a penalty. Shanlkland sent Hart the wrong way with his kick to send the teams int halftime level. Celtic did have a penalty claim before the break but Smith's arm was not in an unnatural position and the ball was hit at hime from close range. 

Two minutes into the second half Hearts went ahead. Josh Ginnelly broke down the right and sent a low cross towards the near post. Shankland got in front of Cameron-Vickers and touched the ball into the goal at the near post. Celtic equalised in fifty-four minutes when an Aaron Mooy corner found the unmarked Giorgos Giakoumakis in the centre of the penalty area and he headed past the helpless Gordon. Within minutes, Celtic would take back the lead. A surging move up the park came to a conclusion after Daizen Maeda was quickest to slam home Gordon’s parried save from Red Hatate on the rebound. 3-2 to the visitors. Hearts however equalised when Devlin ran onto a low cross from Ginnelly in the penalty area. He was taken out by  Moritz Jenz and referee Walsh made no hesitation in awarding another penalty.  The penalty was taken by Shankland and Hart dived to save the ball. The loose bal  was netted by the onrushing Ginnelly but we had another VAR decision.  VAR ruled that Ginelly had encroached into the penalty area before the kick was taken.and a retake was ordered. Despite Devlin grabbing the ball Shankland again took the kick and sent Hart the wrong way as the ball flew into the net. With 75 minutes played, substitute Liel Abada broke into Hearts’ half. His deflected shot fell to the feet of Greg Taylor with Michael Smith unable to cut the ball out. The substitute was able to  slide the ball under Gordon to make it 4-3 to the visitors. Both teams getting going but there were no further goals.

Walking home I remembered a game in the last 1970's when Will Gibson scored a hat-trick against Celtic but Hearts were still defeated 4-3. I thought Hearts played some excellent football today with Devlin and Shankland both being outstanding. If Hearts can continue in the form with injured players returning soon I can see ham pushing up the league table.

Hearts: Gordon, M. Smith,Kingsley, Kiomourtzoglou, Devlin, McKay, Cochrane, Sibbick, Humphrys, Ginnelly, Snodgrass 

Subs: Shankland, Forrest, Halliday, C. Smith

 

Celtic: Hart, Jenz, Giakoumakis, Mooy, Carter-Vickers, Bernabei, O’Riley, Maeda, Hatate, Forrest, Ralston

Subs: Taylor, Abadam, Hajsabonavic, Abidgaard.