Magical for Hearts
when they scored a fourth after Gordon felled Ross Callachan. With no obvious penalty taker on the pitch, and Levein gesturing for the players to sort it out themselves, Milinkovic took responsibility and confidently struck the award past Gordon.
The Hearts fans enthusiastically complied with Levein’s request for them to play their part. They cheered every throw won, every tackle contested.
There was an endearing moment in the second half when Cochrane, understandably caught up in the delirium of it all, challenged for a ball after it had been put back in by Hearts at a throw-in, with Leigh Griffiths expected to give possession back due to an injury to a home player. Cochrane put up his hand to gesture an apology.
None was needed. In the jaded world of Scottish football, it was intoxicating to see such verve, such promise. Even the most ardent Celtic fan, their sense of romance dulled by the remorseless nature of their history-breaking unbeaten run, had to acknowledge this.
Fair play to the visiting supporters since the majority stayed to the end. They recognised the significance of the moment.
Not since St Johnstone defeated Celtic 2-1 in May 2016 have they seen their team beaten by a Scottish team. It’s been 77 games since they last saw their side fail to score in a domestic match.
Some Hearts fans joked beforehand that with a combined total of 74 unbeaten games between the sides, something had to give. It did. Just not in the way anyone expected.