Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 12:00; Sunday; Sky Sports; league match 9
- Celtic sink, in second place and now 8pts behind Hearts, and 5pts ahead of Sevco.
- Cameron Carter-Vickers could be out for up to five months with an Achilles injury after the mid-week match. AJ back out after recurrence of injury in midweek. Iheanacho out similarly due to injury in midweek.
- Odin Holm away on loan to the MLS opened up about a serious injury : “It’s painful and disgusting. It feels like I’m losing control of my ankle joint. I can’t seem to lift my ankle or my feet when I run. It feels like I’m half paralyzed”.
- A small number of Ayr United supporters will be allowed to buy alcohol as part of a pilot scheme during two Premier Sports Cup matches later this month, the club has revealed. The Somerset Park side have been given alcohol licences by South Ayrshire Council for the homes games against Arbroath on Saturday, July 19 and Forfar Athletic on Tuesday, July 22. In a statement on its club website, Ayr explained that a maximum of 66 supporters aged 18 or over would be permitted to buy a ticket for £35 and be allowed stadium access through a specific gate in the Main Stand, with the option to drink up to four pints of Birra Moretti pre-match and another at half-time.
- Hearts benefactor James Anderson reckons Hearts can bridge the gap to Celtic and Sevco with the help of Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics algorithm.
- Reports: Willie Haughey to take over as Celtic chairman!
- Post-Note: Brendan Rodgers last match as Celtic manager as he “departed” from Celtic two days later in what was a very surprising move, albeit not one unwelcome from many.
Summary
“Derek McInnes issued a stirring message to Hearts fans before Sunday’s top-of-the-table meeting with Celtic, urging them to turn Tynecastle into a horrible and hostile cauldron for the visitors. ”
Edinburgh News (Err.. yeah. It used to be such a welcoming place beforehand!)
E-Tims @ETimsNet · 3h FT Hertz 3 #Celtic 1 Hertz man-marked CalMac at HT & game over. No other mid stepped up to plate as per 1st half. Home side tactics as per below. Direct. Win second ball. Corners. Long throws. Physical. They bullied & deserved win.
TimWaits of KDS:
Outplayed when it counted by a quicker, more organized team, and gifted them two goals as well.
Hard to watch us at 3-1 down stumbling around, putting the ball out of play and giving up possession. For very very brief moments we strung a few passes together and looked dangerous, but it was far too rare.
They weren’t even bothering to waste time at 3-1 up, which is a Statement and not a flattering one.
Don’t even know where to start with Murray. Hatate was, again, woeful. Engels just looks like a deer in the headlights.
Cup game is going to be ugly, win or lose.
Arsene Parselie of KDS:
As I said in the match thread, they are title challengers right now, we aren’t, on current form.
Injuries, players off form, Rodgers situation, the board situation, the fan situation, the whole effin shebang is just an unedifying experience at least a year in the making – CL run to Munich aside last season had games as poor as most this season have been, but without the guile, luck and players required to dig out results.
These players aren’t available to us right now for all the usual reasons, and bad luck with injuries.
If the product is pish, boring and results are crap, we can still go because of the collective experience and meeting up with likeminded souls.
If the product is overpriced nonsense, milking the punter for every spare penny just because “it’s my team and it’s what we do…”, eventually the punter will see the light and decide that enough’s enough. (same applies to any rip off product too of course)
Winning the trophies is great and to be celebrated, however that is the absolute best we can do because Europe is a pipedream, so how do you improve that when the domestic opposition aren’t as financially able, and you meet the targets and goals every year?
This season may prove an outlier for Hearts, they’re on a run and are confident. They’re not brilliant, but they are a solid unit.
Unlike us.
It’s a soulless experience watching crap from afar, just like the Covid year, and I couldn’t be less engaged.
It’s a bit rich for us moaning about success becoming boring, and although winning is the aim, winning with entertainment would be great, and that rarely happens when there are no flair players allowed to play with flair.
I just wonder where it all ends up, especially when folk stop attending (not because we’re crap, but because of costs and all the other stuff going on)
To remind ourselves:
Football is for the fans. It can be the greatest game in the world but if there are no people to watch it, it becomes nothing. The fans are the lifeblood of the game.
(Because if they don’t pay, who does?)
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
63 K. Tierney
05 L. Scales
47 D. Murray
51 C. Donovan
41 R. Hatate, subbed for M. Balikwisha at 60mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels 75′, Yellow Card at 75mins
23 S. Tounekti, subbed for J. Forrest at 60mins
24 J. Kenny, subbed for S. Yamada at 60mins
08 B. Nygren, subbed for L. McCowan at 70mins
Subs:
10 M. Balikwisha
49 J. Forrest
28 Paulo Bernardo
14 L. McCowan
56 A. Ralston
36 M. Saracchi
12 V. Sinisalo
06 A. Trusty
18 S. Yamada
Goals:
C. McGregor (12′)
Assists:
K. Tierney (12′)
Hearts
Manager: Derek McInnes
Formation: 4 – 4 – 2
25 A. Schwolow
03 S. Kingsley, subbed for J. McCart at 91mins
19 S. Findlay 87′, Yellow Card at 87mins
04 C. Halkett 86′, Yellow Card at 86mins
31 O. McEntee, subbed for M. Steinwender at 70mins
89 A. Kyziridis 65′, Yellow Card at 65mins, subbed for Ageu at 70mins
06 B. Baningime
14 C. Devlin
18 H. Milne 90’+4, Yellow Card at 90mins plus 4
10 Cláudio Braga, subbed for T. Magnússon at 81mins
09 L. Shankland (c), Captain, subbed for E. Kabangu at 91mins
Subs:
40 Ageu
01 C. Gordon
07 E. Kabangu
11 P. Kaboré
29 S. Kerjota
22 T. Magnússon
05 J. McCart
16 B. Spittal
15 M. Steinwender
Goals:
- D. Murray (8′ og); Own Goal 8mins
A. Kyziridis (52′)
L. Shankland (55′ pen)
Assists:
Referee Steven McLean
Video Assistant Referee Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee 1 Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee 2 David Roome
Fourth Official Colin Steven
Assistant VAR Official David Dickinson
Venue:Tynecastle Park
Attendance:18,774
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Hearts 35.2% Celtic 64.8%
Shots
Hearts 12 Celtic 8
Shots on target
Hearts 7 Celtic 2
Total touches inside the opposition box
Hearts 37 Celtic 21
Goalkeeper saves
Hearts 2 Celtic 5
Fouls committed
Hearts 11 Celtic 10
Corners
Hearts 5 Celtic 9
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Hearts 12 Celtic 8
Shots on target
Hearts 7 Celtic 2
Shots off target
Hearts 2 Celtic 3
Attempts out of box
Hearts 2 Celtic 4
Hit woodwork
Hearts 1 Celtic 0
Total offsides
Hearts 1 Celtic 3
Distribution
Total passes
Hearts 284 Celtic 532
Pass accuracy %
Hearts 64.8 Celtic 81.6
Backward passes
Hearts 39 Celtic 73
Forward passes
Hearts 126 Celtic 178
Total long balls
Hearts 67 Celtic 54
Successful final third passes
Hearts 71 Celtic 92
Total crosses
Hearts 20 Celtic 22
Defence
Total tackles
Hearts 15 Celtic 13
Won tackle %
Hearts 46.7 Celtic 46.2
Won tackle %
Fouls committed
Hearts 11 Celtic 10
Total yellow cards
Hearts 4 Celtic 1
Total clearances
Hearts 29 Celtic 44
pre Match Facts
Heart of Midlothian have lost 14 of their last 16 meetings with Celtic in all competitions, with the exceptions both 2-0 league wins in 2023-24 (December and March).
This will be Celtic’s first league meeting with a side starting the day top of the table since they beat Rangers 3-0 in February 2022. However, the Hoops have lost each of their last four away league visits to sides starting the day top, including a 1-0 loss at Hearts in August 2018.
Heart of Midlothian have won each of their last four league games without conceding; the last non-Old Firm club ( Celtic/Rangers) to win five in a row without conceding in the Scottish Premiership were Aberdeen in April 2023, while Hearts last achieved this in the top-flight in December 2010 – a run which included a 2-0 home win over Celtic.
After their 2-0 defeat at Dundee, Celtic are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time since December 2023 – when the second was against Hearts (0-2). Away from home, the Bhoys last suffered consecutive league defeats in May 2023.
Hearts’ Harry Milne has created more chances from set plays (12) than any player in the Scottish Premiership this season. Meanwhile, no player has more assists in the competition in 2025-26 so far than Milne’s teammate Alexandros Kyziridis (4, level with Cameron Congreve).
Articles
Disappointment as Celts lose out at Tynecastle
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/october/26/disappointment-as-celts-lose-out-at-tynecastle/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
26 Oct 2025, 1:59 pm
Scottish Premiership
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
HEARTS…3
(Murray og 8, Kyziridis 52, Shankland 55pen)
CELTIC…1
(McGregor 12)
It was a disappointing visit to the capital for Celtic as they lost 3-1 to Hearts at Tynecastle, with two quickfire second-half goals from the home side ultimately proving to be decisive in the match.
With eight minutes on the clock, the home side took the lead. Kasper Schmeichel produced a great save to prevent Claudio Braga scoring with a header, but Lawrence Shankland lashed the ball across the face of goal on the rebound and it was turned in to the net by Dane Murray.
Celtic were quick to respond, however, and within five minutes it was 1-1. Callum McGregor started the move that he would ultimately finish, with the captain shifting the ball out to the left for Sebastian Tounekti who in turn found Kieran Tierney.
The left back was composed as he picked out his captain in the centre of the box, and McGregor showed quality as he sent the ball in to the bottom corner of the net.
There wasn’t much to separate the sides as the half wore on, though the home side almost profited from another own goal when Dane Murray’s clearance ricocheted off Colby Donovan. To the relief of everyone in green and white, however, the ball went wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s goal and out for a corner.
The next big chance fell Celtic’s way when some nice play between Reo Hatate and Sebastian Tounekti produced an opportunity for Benjamin Nygren in the six-yard box.
The Swede rolled the ball beyond the keeper and scooped a shot up towards the top corner, but the Hearts goalkeeper produced a brilliant save to prevent the goal.
35%
Possession
65%
12
Shots
8
7
Shots On Target
2
5
Corners
9
11
Fouls
10
4
0
Cards
1
0
With just over five minutes of the second half gone, Hearts put themselves ahead once again. Alexandros Kyziridis picked up the ball on the edge of the box and smashed an effort in to the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
Things almost immediately went from bad to worse for Celtic when Dane Murray brought Claudio Braga down in the penalty area and the home side were awarded a spot kick. Lawrence Shankland stepped up and converted, giving Hearts a 3-1 lead.
Brendan Rodgers made a triple change just before the hour mark, bringing James Forrest, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Shin Yamada on for Sebastian Tounekti, Reo Hatate and Johnny Kenny.
But Hearts nearly took a 4-1 lead with 15 minutes to go when Ageu smashed a shot towards goal from inside the box that Kasper Schmeichel did well to save.
Luke McCowan, who was brought on for Benjamin Nygren, went close to pulling a goal back for Celtic but his shot from the edge of the box crept just wide of the post.
And in the dying minutes of the game, Arne Engels sent a curling effort towards the far post, but Schwolow made a good save to prevent the goal from what would transpire to be Celtic’s last real chance of the game.
Hearts: Schwolow, McEntee (Steinwender 70′), Halkett, Findlay, Kingsley (McCart 91′), Milne, Devlin, Baningime, Kyziridis (Ageu 70′), Shankland (Kabangu 91′), Cláudio Braga (Magnússon 81′)
Subs: Gordon, McCart, Kabangu, Kabore, Steinwender, Spittal, Magnússon, Kerjota, Ageu
Celtic: Schmeichel, Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney, Engels, McGregor, Hatate (Balikwisha 60′), Nygren (McCowan 70′), Kenny (Yamada 60′), Tounekti (Forrest 60′)
Subs: Trusty, Balikwisha, Sinisalo, McCowan, Yamada, Paulo Bernardo, Saracchi, Forrest, Ralston
Bullish Brendan Rodgers doubles down on Celtic ‘responsibility’, has say on Hearts and big injury update
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/bullish-brendan-rodgers-doubles-down-on-celtic-responsibility-has-say-on-hearts-title-chances-and-big-injury-update-5375631
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
0Comments
Published 26th Oct 2025, 15:35 GMT
Manager says he will always carry the can for performances
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he will continue to take responsibility for his team’s spluttering start to the season after they fell eight points behind runaway leaders Hearts following a 3-1 reversal at Tynecastle.
An injury-hit and out-of-sorts Celtic were deservedly taken down by the in-form Jam Tarts. Callum McGregor cancelled out a Dane Murray own goal after a frantic opening 12 minutes, but after the break the hosts kicked on and a strike from Alexandros Kyziridis and a Lawrence Shankland penalty moved Hearts on to 25 points, with Celtic second on 17.
Celtic lost to Dundee 2-0 last weekend and while they got back on track in the Europa League on Thursday with a 2-1 win over Sturm Graz, their overall performance levels this term are a pale imitation of last season. Rodgers admitted that the buck stops with him even if the club remains addled by disharmony due to fan anger at the board.
“I’ve always taken responsibility,” said Rodgers. “There’s never been a time that I haven’t. So I suggest when you’re saying, ‘Is there a time? [to take responsibility]’ There’s always a time. When you’re the manager at Celtic, you’re responsible for the results, despite whatever else happens. So that responsibility is on me.”
Rodgers acknowledged that Hearts have started the season emphatically but said his confidence is “absolutely fine” when it comes to elevating Celtic from their current level.
“My determination is pretty much there,” said Rodgers. “I’ve never worked harder in all my time here. So the motivation is there to try and flip the levels that we’re at. It’s absolutely fine. It’s still so early. I think that’s the key point in it all.
Celtic levels ‘will hopefully improve’
“Hearts have made a fantastic start, got the points on the board, but there’s so much football to play. We’ve just got to hang in there at this moment, find those performances, find the results and hopefully our levels will improve as the season goes on.
“I think the context of today is obviously disappointing in the game and the result. But there are 29 games left. If we can find a consistent level of performance, then there’s absolutely no doubt we can make up the points difference. Hearts have made a really good start in terms of points. Our issues have been well documented. But we’re working very, very hard with limited time to work on the field to find the solutions – sometimes we’re having to do it in the game, playing players. But we’ll continue to work to do that.
“It’s so early. Win, lose or draw the game today, we wouldn’t have been getting carried away with anything. So many games and we’ll continue to focus on trying to maximise what we can get from the players.”
Rodgers handed a start to 22-year-old centre-half Murray in the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers, but it was an afternoon to forget for the youngster. He was preferred to Auston Trusty but sliced a clearance into his own net and took down Claudio Braga for Hearts’ penalty.
“I think it’s all about learning when you’re a young player,” said Rodgers. “Dane’s been in and around it now for a little while. He’s played in some games for us and come into games. So, yes, if you want to play for Celtic, these are the challenges that you want to come and perform in.
“Listen, he’s a good kid. He trains really, really well. We were looking for him to give us the balance. He won some great headers, some really good moments. It was just unfortunate how he started the game. But he kept going, showed his mentality and, yes, he’ll learn from the mistakes.”
Celtic were without key centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) plus right-back Alistair Johnston, forward Daizen Maeda and striker Kelechi Iheanacho (all hamstring). Only one has a chance of making their next match against Falkirk on Wednesday.
“Daizen will join training tomorrow,” said Rodgers. “Ali and Kels are probably not as serious as we first thought, but I’m not sure that they’ll make Wednesday. “They’ll definitely be a few weeks.”
Derek McInnes explains his Hearts title stance amid Celtic ‘millions’ and plans Tony Bloom meeting
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/latest-hearts-news/derek-mcinnes-explains-his-hearts-title-stance-amid-celtic-millions-and-plans-tony-bloom-meeting-5375649
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
0Comments
Published 26th Oct 2025, 16:12 GMT
Tynecastle boss won’t be drawn into talk of winning league
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes played down talk of his team winning the title despite moving eight points clear at the top of the Premiership with 3-1 win over Celtic at Tynecastle.
The Jam Tarts continued their incredible start to the league season by chalking up their eighth win in nine matches and maintaining their unbeaten run. An own goal by Dane Murray, a strike from Alexandros Kyziridis and a Lawrence Shankland penalty took down the defending champions, with jubilant Hearts supporters “we shall not be moved” as their side moved on to 25 points.
Talk of Hearts becoming the first team in 40 years outside of Celtic and Rangers to win the Scottish top flight will merely intensify after this statement result, but McInnes – while delighted with his team – was again quick to point out the early juncture of the season.
Derek McInnes celebrates Hearts’ 3-1 win over Celtic.
Derek McInnes celebrates Hearts’ 3-1 win over Celtic. | SNS Group
“I’m keeping a lid on it,” McInnes said of title expectations. “I think it’s a long, long way to go. If this was after the second round of games, and we were sitting in the position we’re in, then it might be a wee bit more difficult for me to sit here and say what I’m saying. But at the minute, it’s easy to say what I’m saying.
“There’s still so, so long in the season to go, 29 games. We’re not even through the first round of fixtures. But what we are getting, and what we should all be encouraged by, is we’re getting consistent performances, scoring goals, creating more chances, creating more big chances, more shots on target, more penalty box entries.”
McInnes feels his team has more room to grow – and says they will have to hit another level despite their current lofty status at the top of the league.
“I think there’s still improvement in us, to be honest,” said McInnes. “I do think there’s a bit more in us. I think we’ve got good strength in the squad. My bench is strong. We’ve got one or two things lined up for January. But at the minute, we’ve got two months of football ahead of that. We just need to keep the fight as well.
“I think, as clear as day, we need to keep improving. As good as today was, and we’ll enjoy it, I thought we deserved the win, and that’s good for us.”
Hearts taking it ‘game by game’
Hearts travel to St Mirren next on Wednesday night and while McInnes understands why so many people are tipping his team for the title, he stressed Hearts are taking it game-by-game and that Celtic’s spending prowess could come to the fore later in the season.
“The games are just coming thick and fast,” continued McInnes. “I’m actually not looking beyond it. I get it and understand it. Because it’s unusual for a team to be … any team to be eight points clear of a team like Celtic. But I’m well aware that Celtic are going to get better and improve. And they’ve got the strength.
“You’ve got to say, Celtic spend millions. And they pay millions in wages. A lot more than we can ever do. So there’s a huge advantage that they’ve got over us. So any advantage we had going into the game, being a bit fresher, maybe they’ve got a few injuries or whatever.
Tony Bloom celebrates Hearts’ win over Celtic.
Tony Bloom celebrates Hearts’ win over Celtic. | SNS Group
“But, listen, they hands down have got so many advantages over every other team in the league at the minute. Including ourselves. So we are not focusing on Celtic. We’re not focusing on anybody other than ourselves, to be honest. Because I can’t control what other teams will do. And whatever they spend and whatever.
“But I can concentrate on us trying to get better. I think we have just got to recognise that there’s work to be done here. We intend to do it well.”
McInnes said he was planning to hold talks with investor and 29 per cent shareholder Tony Bloom, who arrived in Edinburgh late on Saturday night after watching Brighton lose 4-2 to Manchester United. Hearts fans chanted Bloom’s name, with their excellent form coinciding with his involvement at Tynecastle.
“He messaged me this morning,” said McInnes. “He’s obviously come up from Manchester quite late last night. He stayed in the [stadium] hotel. But I’ll no doubt get a chat with him before he heads off.”
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c0qp1lnq20yt#Report
At a glance
Kyziridis & Shankland secure Hearts win and send them eight points clear at top
Celtic’s McGregor cancelled out early Murray own goal
Hosts go 13 league matches unbeaten for first time in 27 years
ByAndy Campbell
BBC Scotland
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.
‘A lot of things in their favour’ – why Hearts could win title
Published
2 days ago
Carter-Vickers could be out until March – what does it mean for Celtic?
Published
2 days ago
Sunday’s Scottish gossip
Published
7 hours ago
Analysis: Hearts take advantage of depleted Celtic
Hearts started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season -fans’ favourite Kyziridis poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.
Celtic didn’t help themselves with some uncharacteristic carelessness in possession and they buckled under their first real examination.
Claudio Braga’s header was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and Shankland’s return ball was turned into the net by the unfortunate Murray, in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Celtic grew into the contest and started stringing passes together. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released Tierney to square for McGregor, who rolled in.
Aside from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for lone frontman Jonny Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda.
Hearts regained their intensity and adaptability in attacking from across the final third. Kyziridis, one of the finds of the club’s relationship with shareholder Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics, struck low past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.
Almost straight away, Murray tripped Braga in the inside right channel and Shankland converted. And it could’ve been an even more handsome win, had substitute Ageu not been denied by Schmeichel.
Celtic’s second half was somewhat summed up in two incidents involving record signing Arne Engles.
The midfielder’s wayward free-kick delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the Europa League win over Sturm Graz and the Belgium international was then booked for a cynical foul.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: “You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That’s not always enough to win games week in, week out.
“What we have got, is good technical ability. You’re seeing that from a lot of players who have been here previously. Some of the new signings are eager to show that.
“We’ve got a good thing going at the minute, but it’s only three points. It’s important for us to keep winning. We’ve got loads to do, loads to do. After the first two rounds of fixtures is normally an indication of where you are.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “It’s a really poor [second Hearts] goal from our perspective. We didn’t move when the ball went back as a line so when they play it, they should have players offside but didn’t. We have got to do better with the shot.
“There’s still so many points to play for. It’s still so early. It’s only nine games in. Obviously, being eight points behind is not what we would want. The comfort is there’s so many games to play.
“We now have to focus on the here and now and look to find more consistency and more quality in our play.”
…