Invincible TO invisible
Sensational Hearts blow Celts’ unbeaten run to pieces with four-goal Tynie wonder show
THE run had to end sometime. Not many thought it would go like this though as Hearts took a wrecking ball to the Invincibles.
New-look Tynecastle witnessed its first magical moment as the Jambos completely demolished Celtic to rip up the record-breaking run in sensational style.
Defeat has been in the post for Celts and Hearts provided the first-class delivery.
Craig Levein’s men produced a masterclass as clapped-out Celts slumped to their worst defeat to the Gorgie men since Charles Dickens was still using his quill.
You’d need to go back to 1895 to get a win like this and it was the first time Hearts have rattled four past Celts since 1972.
The Jambos were sensational as youngster Harry Cochrane and Kyle Lafferty pounced in the first half before David Milinkovic grabbed a double after the break to draw an emphatic line under the Parkhead side’s 69-match unbeaten streak.
Celts were always going to lose eventually but no one expected them to get completely clattered.
The Hoops simply couldn’t cope with Hearts pressing them high up the pitch. Celtic are usually so comfortable building from the back but the Jambos had them treating the ball like it was live ammunition.
It wasn’t just a bad day at the office for Celtic – it was like the morning after the Christmas party. The Hoops defence went to pieces, the midfield chased shadows and the attack was non-existent.
But this wasn’t about the champs. This was about a superb Hearts performance. It’s been far from a breeze for Levein since he was convinced to return to the dugout.
But there’s been signs of a resurgence in recent weeks. Key men are coming back from injury and kids such as Cochrane have been a breath of fresh air.
At 16 the midfielder is some talent. He could still be leaving out milk and cookies for Santa but here he was wrapping up an incredible win for his side.
You could sense the Jambos were right on it from the off. They were like men possessed, hassling the Hoops on the edge of their own box.
Celtic didn’t like it one bit. The passes were rushed or possession was gifted. The visitors had the odd sniff such as when Leigh Griffiths was set to pull the trigger but slipped. But in the main it was Hearts who had their foot on the throat.
So much so the opening goal was far from a shock. Christophe Berra had flashed a header wide and Mikael Lustig dug out a Milinkovic cross from under his bar.
The Celtic end must have sensed trouble and one cheeky punter chucked a ball back on to the pitch when the Jambos were whipping in a dangerous corner.
It was going to take more than mischief to stop Hearts though.
Cochrane’s opener was a thing of beauty – and right off Levein’s chalkboard. It came from Celtic’s goal kick. The pass out was met with the big squeeze.
Connor Randall picked Kieran Tierney’s pocket and fed Don Cowie who shifted it on to Cochrane. The kid caught it sweet as a nut as he rattled into the bottom corner.
Milinkovic nearly made it two when he sped through but Craig Gordon managed a stunning block.
The second was only on hold though and the Jambos struck again just before half an hour. Celtic were caught on the ball again – this time Callum McGregor gifted possession but there was still plenty of work to do by the time Lafferty picked it up.
The Northern Ireland hero had plenty of space to run in on goal but opted to take it early. It turned out to be the right choice.
Lafferty superbly drilled the ball in off the post as Tynecastle went into full Christmas party mode.
Rodgers was in new territory at the break and Tierney and Olivier Ntcham got the hook with Stuart Armstrong and Moussa Dembele thrown on for the salvage mission.
So much for that idea. Jambos were digging in for a siege but produced another raid of their own.
Jozo Simunovic got caught in two minds with a simple ball over the top but Milinkovic only had one thing on his. The attacker nicked in behind the big stopper, skipped past Gordon and sent Gorgie into dreamland.
The Parkhead men tried to rally. Griffiths unleashed a wicked dipping drive that Jon McLaughlin brilliantly diverted over the bar.
It wasn’t happening though. Scott Sinclair had a line on the target but stuck the ball in Row Z.
More joy was on the way for the Jambos and No.4 was another shocker for Celts’ backline. Gordon got in on the calamity as he brought down Ross Callachan even though he was going away from danger.
A clear penalty and Milinkovic battered the ball into the corner.
All good things come to an end for Celtic but you get the feeling this is just the start for Hearts.
Defeat has been in the post for Celts and Hearts provided the first-class delivery