Rampant Hearts powered eight points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership to bolster their early-season title credentials and deepen the malaise around Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Alexandros Kyziridis’ fine strike and Lawrence Shankland’s penalty gave Derek McInnes’ side a 3-1 lead that the reigning champions could not recover from.
Dane Murray – one of three youngsters in the Celtic XI – slashed into his own net early on to put Hearts ahead at a bouncing Tynecastle, and it was the 22-year-old’s foul that led to the spot-kick.
Callum McGregor’s classy first goal of the season had quickly cancelled out Hearts’ opener, and Benjamin Nygren almost put Rodgers’ team in front, opting for finesse over power and allowing Alexander Schwolow to save from close range.
But Derek McInnes’ irrepressible Hearts seized control again to consign Celtic to successive league defeats for the first time since 2023.
It also gives the Edinburgh side a commanding advantage at the summit.
The last time they were so far clear was in 2005-06 under George Burley, when they ultimately finished second – one of just four occasions that a team has failed to win the title having held such a lead in the past 27 years.
McInnes, whose Aberdeen side were second to Celtic on four occasions, has been at pains to play down title talk, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since 1960.
Rodgers has seen it all before at Celtic – both flawless and stuttering starts to a season. He’s yet to finish second best.
But on Sunday’s evidence, this Hearts team showed they need to be taken seriously.