2024-03-03: Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2023 – 2024

Trivia

KO: 12:00; Sunday; Sky TV
Sevco lost 2-1 the previous day to Motherwell (their first win at Ibrox ever). So Celtic lost chance to leapfrog them to the top. Celtic missed a penalty, and then afterwards Yang was harshly sent off; it was a mountain to climb. Luck wasn’t much on Celtic’s side today. Penalty Celtic conceded was harsh too.
Celtic’s post-match appeal over the red card shown to Hyunjun Yang in Sunday’s game at Tynecastle dismissed at an SFA hearing. Many feel aggrieved over this.
Post-note: (May 2024): independent review panel monitoring the performance of VAR in Scotland found 10 errors in the third round of cinch Premiership fixtures. (1) VAR should have recommended a review on the penalty awarded to Celtic for a challenge on winger Yang Hyun-jun by Hearts defender Alex Cochrane. The onfield decision was incorrect and should have been overturned. (Final score: Hearts 2-0 Celtic, March 3) (2) The decision to penalise a handball against Celtic midfielder Tomoki Iwata in the same match was also deemed to be incorrect. Hearts were awarded a penalty following a VAR review.
Callum McGregor injured so out of this match, assessed on his achilles & calf.
Head of First Team Scouting & Recruitment Mark Lawwell resigned from his position at the club.Lead First Team Scout Joe Dudgeon is also expected to leave his position within Celtic’s recruitment team. He had come in for a lot of stick from across the support for the questionable transfer trades this season.
Ex-Celt Tony Mowbray is “getting stronger” following surgery, his assistant manager at Birmingham Mark Venus has revealed. Mowbray temporarily stood down from his role to undergo treatment on an unspecified medical condition.
The rise in incidences of crowd disorder at Scottish football matches this season has been attributed to reduced policing levels inside stadiums and clubs are warned that stewards are not enough to deter potential troublemakers from causing unrest.
Report: Charlotte FC are finalising a deal to take Liel Abada to the MLS, and will join the club as a designated player.
Report: Celtic were prepared to sell Matt O’Riley if Atletico Madrid offered £25m.
Report: Celtic have been told to expect interest from Italian clubs if they want to sign Adam Idah from Norwich City permanently this summer.
Report: Caoimhin Kelleher told to stay at Liverpool and win trophies rather than join Celtic and be their number one goalkeeper.
Hibernian could reduce the ticket allocations for Sevco and Celtic fans if the trend for flares continues, says chief executive Ben Kensell. Nice bit of deflection after their fans created trouble after their local derby match!

Summary

“There’s been too many games where Celtic have played in fits and starts and they now need to produce it for 90 minutes,” says the club’s ex-striker Chris Sutton pre-match.

Chris Sutton @chris_sutton73 · 6h Funny old title race over the weekend. Well done to Hearts Yang red card I really don’t like but understand why it was given. Iwata handball is so harsh but would have been awarded because of the position of his arm but he was nudged but can’t say it’s a surprise in Scotland…

“That cost us today, the officiating. You will have to ask John Beaton what he’s seeing.”
Brendan Rodgers

“The game was refereed outside of the field today”
Brendan Rodgers described some of the officiating in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts as “really poor”.

El Salto of KDS: Agree with most of the observations already posted
If Idah scores the penalty it’s a different game
Yang’s red car was very harsh
The Hearts penalty was a shocker, never a penalty in a million years
Cochrane somehow stayed on the pitch despite multiple fouls
I thought we missed McGregor terribly, and going down to 10 exposed our soft underbelly
Kyogo did well in second half, but he’s starting from too deep, giving himself too much to do
It was good to hear Rodgers call out Beaton by name, I hope the Club back him when the inevitable backlash from the beaks comes
I still think we’ll win the League, today was a sickener, but I still feel we have the huns’ measure face to face
But we’ll be up against it at Ibrox with 50k baying huns and a probable hun in the middle and on VAR.

Fudgeybhoy wrote: ↑ 3:14 PM – Today Yeah, I think I’m pretty much in the bemused, not necessarily disheartened camp today, despite not being able to capitalize on an excellent opportunity. Actually thought we started really brightly; Yang in particular went passed his man with ease, both inside and out, before winning the penalty (I thought it was a little soft, but he did get his body in-front, so can see why the on-field official gave it). Then it’s the sliding doors moment where if Idah just puts any sort of elevation on that then it goes in and, I suspect, we go on to win comfortably. Doesn’t happen and then immediately … The VAR red card is so incredibly harsh, imo: another one where a still image is used devoid of all context in relation to force/movement, etc. The irony is that the freeze frame doesn’t actually show the contact because there barely is any at all, and Yang’s motion was a flick of the toe of his boot rather than a push of his studs. We then actually did pretty well to stay in the game, even had an offside goal in the back of the net, but another egregious intervention from the VAR official sees a scandalous penalty awarded. Got “lucky” with the offside goal — bad mistake from Tomoki — though I think CCV actually steps up deliberately at the last moment to catch Shankland offside (if so, excellent piece of defending). My only real minor criticism is that I feel Rodgers could have held off on the Kyogo sub until the 60mins mark — but I do understand why he went early with it. We did actually create chances, despite not being brilliant, and really could have ended up taking something from the game. But the second goal kills us, and there was a large degree of misfortune in it, the way it falls to literally the only Hearts player in the vicinity (good first-time finish, mind). Sigh. I should really be doom and gloom, but we actually played better than we did when we chucked the other 0-2 at Celtic park against them. I don’t think this will have a negative effect on player mentality going forward, as they’ll rightly feel aggrieved with the officiating, and hearing the manager pay credit to them and then immediately call that out is good, imo. A few weeks back, I genuinely thought we’d be going to Ibrox looking at potentially being 10 adrift were we to lose. That could still happen, obviously, but I don’t think it will now. We’ve been better recently, and even though today is a sickener, I’ve got more confidence going forward.

Gastro Celtic @Gastro_Celtic I honestly can’t get on board with any criticism of the players or management today. It starts and ends with the refereeing. Nothing else should be spoken about. Two correct on field decisions overturned by a Rangers Fan in the VAR bus.

Irvine Welsh @IrvineWelsh · 8h Just switched on the TV to see Scottish refereeing at its best. A penalty that never was awarded followed by a red card that never was issued. And the game has only started…

Rangers Tax-Case @rangerstaxcase · 4h Brendan Rodgers’ weakness as a manager is his belief in certain setups in defiance of the ability of the players on the pitch.

Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 6h Games like today won’t cost Celtic the league, early sending off’s completely distort games, what will cost Celtic the league is the fact they’ve filled their squad full of average players, sprinkled with some good ones, the whole club is devoid of a spine.John Beaten has completely bastardised that hand ball rule to instruct Robertson into that review. That’s an absolute disgrace of a discision, whatever Beaton’s thinking has been since 5 o’clock yesterday, this has turned into one of the most blatent displays you’ll ever see.

Highland__Paddy @Highland__paddy · 7h Whoever is in charge of VAR today is having a huge influence in the game. Offside decisions can’t be argued with , but the 2 other big decisions have been subjective.

Teams

Celtic

Formation 4-3-3

1Hart
2Johnston Booked at 81mins
20Carter-Vickers
5Scales
3Taylor
33O’Riley
24Iwata Substituted for Kelly at 79′minutes Booked at 89mins
28Gonçalves Bernardo Substituted for Furuhashi at 45′minutes

13Yang Red Card at 16mins
9Idah
38Maeda

Substitutes

4Lagerbielke
7Palma
8Furuhashi
10Kühn
15Holm
29Bain
48Kelly
56Ralston
57Welsh

Pen Missed:

Idah (13′ minutes)

Hearts

Formation 3-5-2

28Clark
21Sibbick
3Kingsley
15Rowles
81Lembikisa
8Nieuwenhof Substituted forDevlinat 79′minutes
6Baningime Substituted forDenholmat 88′minutes
7Grant Substituted forTaitat 71′minutes Booked at 90mins
19Cochrane Booked at 86mins
9Shankland
17Forrest Substituted forTagawaat 79′minutes

Substitutes

1Gordon
13Atkinson
14Devlin
22Denholm
24Pollock
25Tait
29Fraser
30Tagawa
54Wilson

Goals:

Grant (43′ minutes pen),
Shankland (56′ minutes)

Assists:

Nieuwenhof (56′ minutes)

Referee:Don Robertson

Attendance:17,748

Articles

Match Report (see below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Match Links

Stats

Hearts
Celtic

Possession: Home48%; Away52%

Shots: Home14; Away17

Shots on Target: Home6; Away6

Corners: Home7; Away7

Fouls: Home10; Away11

Articles

Hearts 2-0 Celtic verdict as five crazy minutes swing VAR-fuelled match and title race back in Rangers’ favour

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/hearts-2-0-celtic-verdict-as-five-crazy-minutes-swing-var-fuelled-match-and-title-race-back-in-rangers-favour-4540924
Jambos land blow on ten-man champions once again as Celtic lament red card and penalty miss
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Published 3rd Mar 2024, 14:09 GMT
Updated 3rd Mar 2024, 14:23 GMT

The latest episode of the 2023/24 cinch Premiership title race did not disappoint. It was a thriller, laced with action and drama. Come the end of the season, Celtic’s 2-0 defeat by Hearts may prove a pivotal act.

There was a five-minute scene at Tynecastle that defined a painful loss for Celtic. On 11 minutes, Adam Idah’s penalty, driven low down the middle, was saved by the legs of Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark. Then, on 16 minutes, Celtic winger Yang Hjun-jun caught the face of Alex Cochrane with a very high challenge for the ball. It was unintentional – but dangerous. Referee Don Robertson gave a yellow card but on the advice of his VAR John Beaton, the official reviewed the incident and upgraded it to a red. From that moment on, Celtic lost control of this game.

Hearts were clever in the way they managed the remainder of this match, patiently probing away at the Celtic defence. VAR came to their rescue again in the first half – more on that later – but Steven Naismith’s men were worthy of their victory thanks to a Jorge Grant penalty and a crisp Lawrence Shankland strike, his 27th goal of the season. Celtic sloped out of Gorgie failing to capitalise on Rangers’ shock 2-1 defeat by Motherwell 24 hours earlier. They continue to trail the league leaders and Old Firm rivals by two points. Nine matches remain.
Celtic’s Yang Hyun-jun watches referee Don Robertson signal he is going to the VAR monitor. The South Korean winger was subsequently sent off.
Celtic’s Yang Hyun-jun watches referee Don Robertson signal he is going to the VAR monitor. The South Korean winger was subsequently sent off.

Hearts have now taken six points from Celtic this season and are a bit of a bete noire for Brendan Rodgers. It was the Jambos who trounced his Invicibles during his first spell as manager but this season’s results are far more significant. “Can we play you every week,” sang the home support. Hearts, now 13 points clear in third place, will be difficult foes again after the split.

Of course, the hosts rode their luck at times. Idah’s penalty, after Cochrane had tripped Yang, was weak. Celtic still carried a threat with ten men and Clark was kept on his toes throughout. Perhaps the most fortunate moment, though, was the decision to award them a penalty on 42 minutes. Tomoki Iwata knew little about the ball coming off his arm as he tried to head the ball away. Robertson was unfussed to begin with too but after a long VAR check, he gave the penalty. Grant kept his cool and showed Idah how to do it with an emphatic finish into the corner, sending Joe Hart the wrong way.

VAR did go against Hearts in stoppage time for the slimmest of offsides calls against Shankland. But the Scotland striker, with national team boss Steve Clarke watching in the stand, was not to be denied. His precise finish on 57 minutes after the ball broke to him off Greg Taylor in the box was the perfect illustration of his ruthlessness in front of goal.

Celtic never stopped trying to get back into the match, but numerically handicapped and without injured talismanic captain Callum McGregor, who watched on glumly behind the away dugout, they did not look like a side capable of staging a grandstand comeback. Kyogo Furuhashi was thrown on half time and gave them more firepower but in the second period, the closest Celtic came to scoring was when the impervious Clark beat away two Idah efforts. The Scotland keeper won their personal duel hands down.

As you were, then, at the top of the table. And there will be more twists to come.

Celtic reaction: Brendan Rodgers slams ‘incompetence’, takes aim at John Beaton, makes Rangers ‘winning’ comment and issues

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-reaction-brendan-rodgers-slams-incompetence-takes-aim-at-john-beaton-makes-rangers-winning-comment-and-issues-callum-mcgregor-update-4540961
Callum McGregor update
The Celtic manager was left enraged by two game-changing decisions in match against Hearts
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Published 3rd Mar 2024, 15:20 GMT
Updated 3rd Mar 2024, 16:40 GMT

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hit out at “incompetence” from officials Don Robertson and John Beaton after Celtic lost 2-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle.

The defending champions arrived in Gorgie knowing that a win would move them back above Rangers with nine games to go in the Premiership title race, but it was Hearts who prevailed in a controversial match in Edinburgh. Jorge Grant scored a debated penalty just before half time before Lawrence Shankland added a second goal on 57 minutes, while Celtic were forced to play the majority of the match with ten men due to VAR-provoked red card for their winger Yang Hjun-jun on 16 minutes.

Rodgers seethed over the nature of the two big flashpoints that went against Celtic. For Yang’s red card, given for a challenge that caught Alex Cochrane in the face, on-field referee Robertson originally issued a yellow card, but on the advice of his VAR Beaton reviewed the decision and upgraded it, while for the 42nd minute penalty, Robertson was called to the monitor once more and pointed to the spot for a handball against Tomoki Iwata.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looks dejected as he leads his players off Tynecastle following the 2-0 defeat by Hearts.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looks dejected as he leads his players off Tynecastle following the 2-0 defeat by Hearts.

“My feeling is that the game was decided by the officials – on the field and outside of the field,” said Rodgers. “You guys will know me long enough to know that I don’t really comment on officials – they make mistakes and whatever else. But today that felt like really really poor officiating.

“The first one is the sending off when there is no force. Show a still image of that and of course and you will see a foot up with the head near it, but it’s not the reality of the move Don got it actually right on the field.It was a high boot, so it’s a yellow card – no malice or force. For John Beaton to actually look at that in VAR, supposedly under no pressure, and say that was sending off? I find that incredible.

“The second one is worse. If you have a penalty go against you for that then there will be penalties every single weekend and midweek. I don’t know what he is supposed to do. Tomo is jumping, he got a nudge, he is coming down, the ball falls on to his arm and there is no intention to move. Then you get the penalty against and he gets the chance to look at it and see it. That really left us with an uphill task in the game and credit to my players. They kept going, their keeper has made a few good saves. If we get one of them it changes the momentum of the game. But it was a poor day for the officials.”

Rodgers was left in no doubt that the VAR technology is not to blame and the decisions were borne out of “incompetence” from the officials. “I also think as well that VAR is not the problem here, that’s clear,” the Celtic boss continued. “It’s competence. And I think the first one is a great example of the game being refereed outside of the pitch. This is the thing everyone is talking about, that the officials do their job and if it’s something that’s clear and obvious maybe step in. The referee made the decision and someone outside made another decision to say it was a sending off. So that’s the game being refereed outside of the field and in big games that costs you.
Celtic’s Callum McGregor watches on injured from the Tynecastle stand.
Celtic’s Callum McGregor watches on injured from the Tynecastle stand.

“I’m not one who comes crying about referees, be it here or the EPL, because I understand there will be mistakes made. But that today was awful officiating in what was a big game for us.”

Rodgers was asked if it was the worst display of officiating he had experienced during his time in Scotland and he responded: “I think so. In my time up here I’m not one to have a go at refs because I understand it’s a very very difficult position they are in. I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt. But I think when I see that level of incompetence is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game. In such a tight title race, which it is and it’s fantastic and great to be involved in, that can make the difference. And that today made the difference for us.”

Rodgers was rueful of not taking advantage of Rangers’ surprise slip-up against Motherwell on Saturday after they lost 2-1 to Motherwell but reinforced that, just two points behind their Old Firm rivals, the destination title is in their own hands with two league Old Firm matches to go. “You would never have said yesterday before Rangers lost to Motherwell at home that they would lose,” the Northern Irishman said. “Everything I hear is that they are going to win every single game through to the end of the season. But we know it’s about us. It’s still very much in our hands. We’ve got 12 games to go. Nine league games and we want to be in the cup final on the 25th of May. We will fight for every competition we will be in. We had the chance to go top. It was unfortunate the way the game panned out for us. We now have to recover and go away and get to the semi-finals next weekend.”

Celtic were without captain Callum McGregor due to an Achilles issue and Rodgers admitted that he could be a doubt for Scotland’s double-header against Netherlands and Northern Ireland later this month. “I don’t think it will be long-term but it may last through to the international break,” he added, before being pressed on the potential of being unavailable for the national team. “I don’t know. He may well do. He has a further scan on Wednesday and then we will get to see where he’s at. If he’s not going to be involved for us he obviously won’t be involved for Scotland.”

Celtic loss ‘refereed outside the field’, says manager Brendan Rodgers after Hearts win 2-0

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68462775

Last updated on

2 hours ago2 hours ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
‘Really poor officiating’ cost Celtic – Rodgers

Manager Brendan Rodgers lamented “really, really poor officiating” as Celtic fell to a controversial defeat at Hearts to complete a weekend of shocks in the Scottish title race.

The 2-0 loss prevented champions Celtic reclaiming top spot from Rangers, who stay two points clear after being stunned by Motherwell on Saturday. The top two each have nine league games left.

Rodgers claimed “the game was refereed outside the field today” after video assistant referee (VAR) intervention led to Yang Hyun-jun’s yellow being upgraded to a red card and Tomoki Iwata conceding a penalty for Hearts’ opener.

John Beaton was the VAR in Edinburgh, with referee Don Robertson ultimately making the final decisions.

Yang was penalised for a high foot on Alex Cochrane and Iwata was judged to have used his arm, with Jorge Grant netting from the spot. Celtic themselves were awarded a penalty at 0-0, with Adam Idah’s effort saved by Zander Clark.

Lawrence Shankland had a goal disallowed for offside, this time after a VAR check, but was not to be denied as he struck Hearts’ second after the break..

“The first incident with the sending off – there’s no force in that,” Rodgers told BBC Scotland.

“If you make a still [image], of course it gives you a different opinion but the reality was not that. The referee made a right decision of a yellow card.

“That’s a clear example of what people say VAR isn’t. The game was refereed outside the field today. That means we get a sending off.

“The second one is even worse. Tomoki gets a nudge, I don’t know where his arm is supposed to go. The ball drops on to his arm. If that’s the case, we should have had a penalty at Motherwell last week.

“For John Beaton to say that is a penalty – wow. Really poor officiating in a big game for us.”

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith agreed with the red card but felt both penalties were “soft”.

And former Hearts player Allan Preston told BBC Sportsound: “VAR is not the problem, it’s the people running it. Referees know the rules inside out, but they don’t know the game.”

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Half-time substitute Kyogo Furuhashi and Idah threatened in the second half but Celtic ultimately left empty handed, suffering a first league defeat since losing 2-0 at home to Hearts in December.

With Rangers’ unbeaten home record under Philippe Clement shattered by Motherwell, it marks the first time the Old Firm have both lost on the same weekend since February 2018.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner says the red card decision was harsh on Rodgers’ side and “changed the game”, adding: “I didn’t think it was a penalty for Celtic either and they missed that opportunity. Idah did not strike the ball well enough.

“Is this the same Celtic we saw last season? No. Things have definitely changed in terms of intensity, maybe players not up to scratch. The bench was weak today.

“You couldn’t see Celtic scoring in that second half. They had a few chances and, if it had been Lawrence Shankland, they might have gone in.”
Hearts & Shankland ‘happy’ with contract situation
Hearts ‘dealt perfectly’ with every turning point

Shankland, now with 28 goals for club and country this season and out of contract next summer, has faced constant speculation over his future and is yet to sign a new deal offered by Hearts.

The striker chose an opportune moment to provide a further reminder of his talents, with Scotland manager Steve Clarke watching from the Tynecastle stands as a friendly double-header looms later this month in the build-up to Euro 2024.

Shankland unleashed six shots, three on target, and finished with aplomb to secure victory. The 28-year-old has proved the scourge of Celtic, netting three in three league meetings this season and six in the past nine.

He has now reached 20 Premiership goals for the second successive season and told BBC Scotland: “Things are going well, the goals are going in and I feel like I’m doing my job for the team.

“Hopefully that gives me the best opportunity to be involved with the national team.”

On his future, he added: “We’ll see, if we open talks further down the line. At the moment, the club and I are happy with the situation.”

Preston is “doubtful” Hearts can hang on to their prize asset beyond the summer. “If I was Rodgers or [Clement in January, I’d have paid what Hearts wanted because he scores goals,” he said.

“He’s the best striker in Scotland and he could have won one of them the league.”

Pre- match:

‘This is where the fun begins’: Celtic not cowed into silence by Rangers

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/this-is-where-the-fun-begins-celtic-not-cowed-into-silence-by-rangers-4540153

Rodgers rallies the troops ahead of final ten games and is not worried by potential McGregor absence

By Graeme Macpherson

Published 1st Mar 2024, 22:30 GMT

“This is when the fun begins,” said Brendan Rodgers, before making what potentially lies ahead for him and his team sound as much fun as a weekend spent browsing hardware stores for new skirting boards.

There will, of course, be an explosion of joy and exhilaration should a tumultuous campaign conclude with Celtic again hoisting the league trophy but between now and that moment it will come down to less frivolous qualities such as determination, commitment, spirit and self-belief. In an increasingly tense and fraught title race, there won’t be much time for smiles or levity.

This sort of scenario, though, is what Rodgers thrives on. Sure, a lot of Celtic supporters would probably be happier if their team was overseeing a 20-point lead at this juncture but their manager gave the impression that he is almost relishing the chance to roll up his sleeves and get torn in.

The Celtic players take coaching instructions during their training session ahead of facing Hearts.

There are ten games left in the championship chase, five either side of the league split, and Rodgers seems to have rediscovered his mojo. This has been a troublesome first season back for the Northern Irishman for a number of factors but either the midweek mauling of Dundee or the fact that the countdown is well and truly on seems to have got him fired up. If his walk out of the media room at the club’s Lennoxtown training facility yesterday had been soundtracked it would have been to the theme from Rocky or something equally uplifting and up-tempo.

Rodgers, of course, can’t score the goals or keep the clean sheets that will propel Celtic forward in their title defence but, starting from Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, he expects his team to be as galvanised as he clearly is. Throughout his career Rodgers has made a big noise about getting to know the person as much as the player, peering deep into the soul of every prospective new signing to make sure they are made of the right stuff. This, then, is when he expects that rigorous personal evaluation to bear fruit as Celtic look to claw back the two-point deficit to league leaders Rangers and end the campaign on top once again.

“This is the serious part of the season,” he said. “People will always try to dramatise it from a long way out when the finish line is still quite a way away, but this is the real exciting bit where every single point matters. It feels different. You know it’s game on, and you need to bring it on now. That is what the message was before the game the other night, that you are now in a period where you just cannot be in your comfort zone. Now, you should never be. Naturally, you can be as a player, for whatever reason. But from now on in…

“I say comfort zone because you have to have physicality. If you are in your comfort zone in life then you are normally not being physical, you are not doing the work. You are in a period now where you have to be on it, you have to be there, and I think we saw an example of that the other night. From the off, the aggression, the speed, the touch, everything. When our game is like that then our football smiles, and that is what we want to see now for the rest of the season. It’s been a challenging season up to now for so many reasons, but we are still there. We are still there and we’ve got two big targets to play for, and it is still all within our grasp. So, we’ll be ready.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

It seems that the Celtic players – and no doubt their Rangers counterparts – will be calling for defibrillators rather than party hats come the end but Rodgers believes it is still possible to extract some pleasure from such a pressurised set of circumstances. “It’s one where, especially with experience, you know that’s what it brings,” he said of the potential joy that lies ahead. “If you don’t relish pressure then you can never be in this position as a manager or a player at a club like this here. As a manager you’re always mapping it out for the players and preparing them in every facet of the game, whether it’s physically, mentally, tactically or technically. The support is always there for them.”

The latest challenge comes in the shape of Callum McGregor’s fitness with Rodgers conceding his captain is a doubt for the Hearts game. The manager, though, believes there is sufficient depth within his squad to cope with McGregor’s absence if need be. “With players like that, the guys who are always available and always playing, it’s such a new experience for them to be injured,” he added. “All players, especially top players, want to play every game. So, you have to be mindful of it and be aware of the risk. We will clearly take that into consideration because we are entering into a really important period. I’d love to get to the point this season where all these players are available and ready to play together, and enjoy seeing them play together. But, like I say, if it is one where he isn’t available then the opportunity is there for someone else.

“The likes of Cameron [Carter-Vickers] and Ali Johnston are now getting back up to speed, while Greg Taylor is a great speaker as well. So, there’s that leadership from within guys like big Joe Hart. Guys will step up. Someone of Callum’s quality and leadership qualities will always be a miss when he isn’t playing, but that then is the responsibility of everyone to take that on board.”

BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68395495
By Andy CampbellBBC Sport Scotland

Last updated on

5 hours ago5 hours ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
Lawrence Shankland scores for Hearts against Celtic
Lawrence Shankland brushed off the disappointment of a disallowed first-half goal to cap a fine display with this goal

Hearts beat 10-man Celtic in a VAR-dominated encounter to prevent the defending champions returning to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

The visitors’ Adam Idah had an early penalty saved and Brendan Rodgers’ side soon found themselves depleted.

Yang Hyun-jun was initially booked for a high boot on Alex Cochrane but it was upgraded to a red card on review.

Jorge Grant put the hosts in front from a VAR-awarded spot-kick before team-mate Lawrence Shankland had a goal ruled out for offside.

But Shankland’s second-half effort did count and ensured Celtic remain two points behind Rangers, whose loss at home to Motherwell on Saturday had opened the door for Rodgers’ team.

Hearts, with successive 2-0 wins over Celtic this season, bolster their position in third, restoring a 13-point lead over St Mirren.

And for the first time in six years, both halves of the Old Firm have suffered league defeats on the same weekend.

Rodgers described the officiating as “really poor” and counterpart Steven Naismith felt both penalties were “soft”.

And Rodgers said of the title race: “It’ll be tight. We had a chance to go a point ahead, we couldn’t manage that. Everything we want to achieve this year is with us. We have to get over this today and we will do.”

Celtic loss ‘refereed outside the field’ – Rodgers
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While Celtic were without captain Callum McGregor, nursing an Achilles strain, they started brightly and the first flashpoint between Yang and Cochrane came on 11 minutes.

The in-form Celtic winger got in behind the Hearts defender and was tripped, prompting referee Don Robertson’s first big call of the day. Idah, after three goals in two games, stepped up and struck down the middle only for Zander Clark to sweep away with his feet.

And then, midway inside the Hearts half, Yang’s elevated foot appeared to catch Cochrane’s shoulder, resulting in a quick flash of the yellow card by Robertson. However, the referee was advised to give the challenge a second look and Yang’s game was over after 16 minutes.

There was little let-up in the first-half drama as Matt O’Riley netted via both posts, only for Idah’s offside earlier in the move to cut short the Celtic celebrations.

And VAR was once again involved in the next twist as Tomoki Iwata’s contact with a falling ball was reviewed. Iwata and team-mate Alistair Johnston leapt together with Stephen Kingsley and the ball appeared to strike Iwata’s outstretched arm.

Captain Shankland, who netted from the spot against Hibernian in midweek, stepped aside for Grant to send the ball firmly into the net to Joe Hart’s right.

Iwata’s day threatened to go from bad to worse as he was robbed by Beni Baningime and Alan Forrest played in Shankland to net. But Iwata was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the striker had gone a little too early as Liam Scales held his defensive line.

The eight added minutes alone told a story about just how eventful the first half had been. When the teams reappeared, Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi was on in place of Paulo Bernardo.

The pace of the game dropped and Hearts reverted to a patient approach to eke out an opening. It duly arrived when Calem Nieuwenhof slipped in the inside right channel but somehow managed to tee up Shankland for a smart finish – a 27th goal of the season.

Celtic needed something and almost found the net when Kyogo connected with O’Riley’s low ball, Clark making another astute save.

The goalkeeper had further says in proceedings as he denied Idah from close range after Kyogo’s enterprising run and then again after the former got in behind the Hearts defence.
Player of the match – Zander Clark
Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark
Like club and international team-mate Shankland, Clark showed his best in full view of Scotland manager Steve Clarke in the stand
Hearts back on song, Celtic hopes far from over – analysis

One-nil down to Motherwell at half-time last Sunday, Celtic faced the prospect of being five points behind Rangers. Ten goals in 135 minutes later and Rodgers’ side travelled to Edinburgh aiming to be top.

The missed penalty and Yang’s dismissal changed the nature of their task and VAR continues to add unpredictability – and controversy – to the Scottish game.

Striker Kyogo’s introduction for a midfielder showed ambition and the revamped attack would have registered but for Clark’s alertness.

Celtic’s title destiny remains in their own hands with two meetings against Rangers still to be played this term.

Hearts’ impressive league season hit a major speed bump with last weekend’s 5-0 defeat at Ibrox and a draw at home to city rivals Hibs in midweek could only partially raise their spirits.

This victory, a second win over Celtic in a league season for the first time since 2006-07, gets their campaign firmly back on track with third all but secure and a Scottish Cup run still ongoing.
What they said

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: “I’m happy – happy with a professional, good performance. We controlled a lot of the game. We continued to create chances. The way the game played out, every moment and every turning point that could’ve been, we dealt with it perfectly.

“[For Celtic’s penalty] Alex plants his foot in the ground and the forward has kicked him. Credit to Zander, who had a really good game when he needed to. The [red card] decision’s right because other red cards that are similar have been given as red cards.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “We wanted the three points, we didn’t get it, so we move on. Credit to my players because they kept going and fighting until the very end.

“However, the overall game is influenced by the officials. I never come and speak about officials because I understand we all make mistakes, we’re all human, but it felt like really poor officiating today.”
What’s next?

The Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Holders Celtic host fellow top-flight side Livingston next Sunday (14:30 GMT) with Hearts away to second-tier Greenock Morton the following evening (19:45) on BBC Scotland.

Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 0.
90’+5′

Full Time

Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 0.

90’+4′

Booking

Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90’+4′

Post update

Alistair Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+4′

Post update

Foul by Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian).
90′

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Adam Idah (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′

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Foul by Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian).
90′

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Attempt blocked. Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
89′

Booking

Daniel Kelly (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
89′

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Foul by Daniel Kelly (Celtic).
89′

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Aidan Denholm (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88′

Substitution

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Aidan Denholm replaces Beni Baningime.
87′

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Attempt blocked. Greg Taylor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
86′

Booking

Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86′

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Matt O’Riley (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86′

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Foul by Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian).
86′

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Attempt saved. Adam Idah (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
84′

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Attempt saved. Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
83′

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Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83′

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Foul by Kye Rowles (Heart of Midlothian).

81′

Booking

Alistair Johnston (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81′

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Foul by Alistair Johnston (Celtic).

81′

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Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80′

Post update

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
79′

Substitution

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Cameron Devlin replaces Calem Nieuwenhof because of an injury.
79′

Substitution

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Kyosuke Tagawa replaces Alan Forrest.
79′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Daniel Kelly replaces Tomoki Iwata.
78′

Post update

Delay in match because of an injury Calem Nieuwenhof (Heart of Midlothian).
78′

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Attempt blocked. Matt O’Riley (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
78′

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Attempt saved. Adam Idah (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyogo Furuhashi.
77′

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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Matt O’Riley.
77′

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Attempt blocked. Alan Forrest (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Cochrane.
76′

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Attempt saved. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alan Forrest with a cross.
73′

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Offside, Celtic. Daizen Maeda is caught offside.
71′

Substitution

Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Macaulay Tait replaces Jorge Grant.
70′

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Attempt saved. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
68′

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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
67′

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Delay in match because of an injury Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian).
66′

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Attempt saved. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tomoki Iwata.
64′

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Jorge Grant (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

64′

Post update

Foul by Adam Idah (Celtic).
62′

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Foul by Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian).

62′

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Matt O’Riley (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
61′

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Foul by Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian).
61′

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Alistair Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60′

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Attempt missed. Tomoki Iwata (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
58′

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Attempt saved. Adam Idah (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner.
56′
Goal!

Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 0. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Calem Nieuwenhof.
56′

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Foul by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic).
56′

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Alan Forrest (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54′

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Attempt missed. Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross following a corner.
53′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stephen Kingsley.
53′

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Attempt blocked. Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley.
53′

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Attempt saved. Calem Nieuwenhof (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
52′

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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Liam Scales.
52′

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Attempt blocked. Alan Forrest (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Jorge Grant.
50′

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Attempt saved. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Dexter Lembikisa.
49′

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Foul by Tomoki Iwata (Celtic).
49′

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Beni Baningime (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
48′

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Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).

48′

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Dexter Lembikisa (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47′

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Daizen Maeda (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

47′

Post update

Foul by Toby Sibbick (Heart of Midlothian).
Second Half

Second Half begins Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 0.
45′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Kyogo Furuhashi replaces Paulo Bernardo.
45’+9′

Half Time

First Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 0.
45’+8′

Post update

Offside, Heart of Midlothian. Calem Nieuwenhof is caught offside.
45’+7′

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VAR Decision: No Goal Heart of Midlothian 1-0 Celtic.
45’+4′

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GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
45’+4′

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Offside, Heart of Midlothian. Lawrence Shankland is caught offside.
45’+2′

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Alistair Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
45’+2′

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Foul by Beni Baningime (Heart of Midlothian).
45′

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Attempt missed. Adam Idah (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Daizen Maeda.
43′

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Goal! Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 0. Jorge Grant (Heart of Midlothian) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
41′

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VAR Decision: Penalty Heart of Midlothian.
39′

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Penalty conceded by Alistair Johnston (Celtic) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
39′

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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Liam Scales.
39′

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Attempt blocked. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Calem Nieuwenhof.
36′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dexter Lembikisa.
36′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Toby Sibbick.

35′

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Attempt blocked. Adam Idah (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a headed pass.
35′

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Attempt blocked. Paulo Bernardo (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

35′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Beni Baningime.
32′

Post update

Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Matt O’Riley with a cross following a corner.
31′

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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Toby Sibbick.
31′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Adam Idah (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alistair Johnston.
30′

Post update

Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Joe Hart.
30′

Post update

Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
30′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stephen Kingsley with a cross.
29′

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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Alistair Johnston.
27′

Post update

Attempt missed. Alan Forrest (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Dexter Lembikisa with a cross.
25′

Post update

Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
25′

Post update

Dexter Lembikisa (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
22′

Post update

Offside, Celtic. Adam Idah is caught offside.
19′

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Attempt missed. Tomoki Iwata (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
17′

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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Matt O’Riley.
16′

Dismissal

Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic) is shown the red card.
15′

Post update

VAR Decision: Card upgraded Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic).
14′

Post update

Foul by Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic).
14′

Post update

Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13′

Post update

Penalty saved. Adam Idah (Celtic) right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
11′

Post update

Penalty Celtic. Yang Hyun-Jun draws a foul in the penalty area.

11′

Post update

Penalty conceded by Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) after a foul in the penalty area.
11′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stephen Kingsley.
10′

Post update

Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
10′

Post update

Foul by Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian).
8′

Post update

Foul by Adam Idah (Celtic).
8′

Post update

Calem Nieuwenhof (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
8′

Post update

Attempt missed. Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lawrence Shankland with a cross.
7′

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Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
7′

Post update

Jorge Grant (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
2′

Post update

Offside, Celtic. Daizen Maeda is caught offside.
1′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stephen Kingsley.
Kick Off

First Half begins.
Posted at 17:30

Post update

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.