Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BRAVE HEARTS
Invincibles invisible as Hearts put press on Brendan’s Bhoys and bring historic run to abrupt end
THE run had to end some time. Not many thought it would go like this though as Hearts took a wrecking ball to the Invincibles. The new look Tynecastle witnessed it’s first magical moment as the Jambos completely demolished Celtic to rip up the re- cord 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 in 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 Milankovic grabbed a double after the break to draw an emphatic line under the Parkhead side’s 69-match unbeaten run.
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.
It wasn’t just a bad day at the office for Celtic – it was like morning after the Christmas party. The Hoops defence went to pieces, the midfield chased shadows and the attack was non existant.
But this wasn’t about the champions. This was about a superb Hearts performance. It’s been far from a breeze for Levein since he was convince to return to the dugout.
But there’s been signs of a resurgence in recent weeks. Key men are coming back from injury and kinds like 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 three points and an incredible
win for his side. You could sense the Jambos were right on it from the off. They were like men possessed.
Cochrane’s opener was a thing of beauty – and it came right off Levein’s chalkboard. It came from Celtic’s goalkick.
Connor Randall picked Tierney’s pocket, fed Don Cowie who shifted it on to Cochrane.
The kid caught it sweet as a nut as he rattled in to the bottom corner.
Milinkovic nearly made it two right away when he sped through but Craig Gordon managed a stunning block but the second was only on hold.
This time Callum Mcggregor gifted possession but there was still plenty of work to do by the time Lafferty picked it up but he shot early and superbly drilled the ball in off the post.
After the break Jozo Simunovic got caught in two minds with a simple ball over the top but Milinkovic only had one thing on his and nicked in to make it 3-0.
Number four was another shocker for the Celts backline, this time Gordon taking down Ross Callachan and Milinkovic belted in the penalty.