Hearts 2 Celtic 0: 10-man Hoops miss chance to go top as Shankland strikes in Tynecastle epic full of VAR controversy
THE pendulum astonishingly swings back in Rangers’ favour.
After an intense, epic Tynecastle affair 10-man Celtic failed to get the victory they craved to leapfrog their bitter rivals at the top of the table.
Rangers’ defeat 24 hours earlier had presented a wonderful opportunity – but Brendan Rodgers’ team squandered it against the pumped-up Jambos.
VAR official John Beaton was all over this - approving a penalty for the Celts which Adam Idah missed, prompting a red card offence for Yang Hyn-jun, then highlighting a hand-ball for a spot-kick for the Jambos which Jorge Grant netted.
Oh, and there was also a Lawrence Shankland goal chalked off.
Shankland did eventually score – his 27th of the campaign – in front of watching Scotland boss Steve Clarke.
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When the dust had settled Celtic were left badly bruised with their title defence once more an uphill task.
But for Hearts victory stunningly cemented their top three credentials.
Losing skipper Callum McGregor was a major blow for the champions heading through to Gorgie but the bigger concern is how long their midfield inspiration is going to be out.
Fatefully, Hearts boss Steven Naismith recalled Grant among five changes from the draw against Hibs, with Beni Baningime and Kye Rowles also back.
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Hearts had the first early chance after Cameron Carter-Vickers had sliced an attempted clearance from a Shankland cross. The ball fell to Alex Cochrane on the far side for a clear shooting chance but he bad badly miscued it.
It was a fine start by the Jambos, assertive all over the park and getting at Celtic high up.
But then suddenly the Hoops got a 12th minute spot-kick – quickly awarded by ref Don Robertson for a challenge on Yang by Alex Cochrane and then backed up by a VAR check.
At first sight it looked a cert but it must be said with slow-mo TV evidence it became questionable.
Up stepped Idah – two penalties already netted for Celtic – but he was left tormented as his right foot effort down the middle was saved by the leg of Zander Clark who was diving away from it.
It was a stunning misfortune for the Hoops who could not have needed any more incentive to win.
And, infuriatingly for Rodgers, a FIFTH spot-kick failure from their last 10 awards – with Idah joining Luis Palma, Reo Hatate and David Turnbull in penalty misery.
Celtic were still coming to terms with that when they were incredibly hit with another savage blow.
Yang was initially booked for a high boot challenge on Cochrane. But moments later whistler Robertson got the signal from VAR man Beaton that it was more in the category of serious foul play and a potential red card.
Robertson duly checked the monitor – and the South Korean winger was instead sent off.
But, again, it was a debatable call. Yang wasn’t even looking at Cochrane as he caught him.
No ref has sent off more players in the top flight this term with this being Robertson’s fourth victim.
With just 16 minutes gone Celtic were left totally rattled.
Matt O’Riley had the ball in the Hearts net in the 22nd minute but it was so belatedly ruled out for offside.
Hearts, however, began to turn the screw on their depleted and vulnerable guests.
Idah a shot in the box deflected over and from O’Riley’s corner Daizen Maeda should’ve done better than head over at the near post.
But the Jambos would regain control and would grab a deserved lead in the closing stages of the half.
Just seconds after a ball in the Celtic box had been cleared play was stopped for a VAR check for a possible handball.
There was contact with Iwata’s arm but was it worthy of a penalty?
The Japanese midfielder, actually barged by team-mate Alistair Johnston, was looking the opposite way as a high ball dropped against his arm. It also appeared to catch Johnston’s arm.
Whatever, ref Robertson was once more sent to the monitor – and after a two minute check decided it was a penalty.
Grant – Hearts’ new taker – ignored pre-kick mind-game words from Celts No1 Joe Hart towards himself and Shankland, and coolly sent him the wrong way for 1-0.
The ball was chucked away towards the Wheatfield Stand and Hart, after briefly confronting Cochrane, then had the indignity of waiting for fans to give him it back.
One threw it right at him and the angry veteran wasn’t having that – standing his ground, staring at the supporter before being ushered away.
Within six added minutes Celtic feared they’d conceded a second, Shankland finishing from a Forrest pass. But then VAR intervened again, this time saving Hoops with an offside call against the lethal striker.
Rodgers threw on Kyogo Furuhashi for Bernardo for the second half, going with a 4-3-2 formation to somehow salvage even a point.
But Celtic were facing a daunting task, although there was spirit with efforts from Kyogo and Carter-Vickers.
Hearts, though, effectively killed it in the 57th minute with a second goal that did stand.
And it was a fabulous piece of opportunism from Shankland – alert to a Calem Nieuwenhof slip in the box and the ball breaking loose before shooting past Hart from 12-yards.
Celtic responded with efforts from Idah and Tomoki Iwata.
But by now the home fans were gloating and taunting Rodgers with the chant ‘Sacked in the morning.’
Celtic pressed and Hearts keeper Zander Clark saved from Kyogo and O’Riley.
Hearts played on the counter and Hart easily saved a Shankland header. Back came Celtic and Clark parried an Idah effort and then sub Macaulay Tait blocked brilliantly from O’Riley’s follow up.
Desperate Celtic threw what they could at the home defence and Clark saved again from Idah.
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But the Jambos stood strong to deliver another memorable victory over Rodgers’ side – the first time for 17-years they’ve beaten Celtic twice in the league in a season.
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