GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: Arne Engels of Celtic celebrates scoring his team's opening goal during the SPL | Premier League match between Celtic FC and Heart of Midlothian FC at Celtic Park on September 14, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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Celtic new Bhoys Engels and McCowan get the goals to send Hearts bottom

By Editor -

Celtic were far from their free-flowing best against Hearts this afternoon at Celtic Park with Steven Naismith’s attempt at parking the bus.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers arrives prior to the SPL | Premier League match between Celtic  and Hearts  at Celtic Park on September 14, 2024 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

That proved to be fruitless in the end. Hearts got to the interval unscathed having seen both Kyogo and Arne Engels pass up great chances to find the back of the net.

Engels replaced Paulo Bernardo as the only change

Engels replaced Paulo Bernardo as the only change from the team that outplayed theRangers a fortnight ago and the 21 year old Belgium international could have had a hat-trick on his full Celtic debut. An early change was blasted over the bar then after another fine move down the right had side, Engels hit the inside of the near post with the ball somehow deflecting away from the goals.

Liam Scales was ridiculously punished for a handball that looked to give Hearts a penalty but after a long VAR check the rookie referee was sent to the screen then changed his decision as justice was done.

Some choice words at half-time

Brendan Rodgers would have had some choice words at half-time about Celtic’s wastefulness and the opening goal came after another VAR review, with the outcome again correct in awarding a penalty rather than the onfield decision of a Celtic corner. So the referee Colin Steven got both calls wrong but was then aided by VAR.

Sending Craig Gordon the wrong way

Arnie Engels stepped forward after a debate with Reo Hatate and took the ball before sending Craig Gordon the wrong way to give Celtic a well deserved lead. Brendan Rodgers looked to his bench with just over an hour on the clock replacing Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate with James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo.

Arne Engels celebrates scoring his team’s opening goal during the SPL | Premier League match between Celtic and Hearts  at Celtic Park on September 14, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Then in the latter round of changes Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Luis Palma were introduced with Kyogo, Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels going off.

And McCowan doubled Celtic’s lead, much to his obvious delight, after Gordon could only push his effort onto the post, this time though it ended up in the back of the net.

Hearts pushed foreword with more ambition after than before in the closing minutes Adam Idah appeared to make it three after fine work down the left from Luis Palma and Paul Bernardo. It was a fine goal but frustratingly for the Irishman his first of the season was ruled out by on offside against Palma in the build-up.

We can have no complaints if the decision was correct and Luis really needs to look across that line and keep himself onside.

Celtic’s 2-0 win means that Kasper Schmeichel has managed to make the history books in Scottish football breaking a hundred year record for clean sheets at the start of a league campaign.

Brendan Rodgers will be looking for an improvement for midweek with some fine-tuning needed after the international break. For Hearts another defeat coupled with Kilmarnock picking up a point, sends the Tynecastle side to the bottom of the table and with that the pressure will mount on Stephen Naismith.

Aberdeen won 2-1 at home to Motherwell, joining Celtic on five wins from five with both opening up an eight points lead on theRangers ahead of their game at Tannadice tomorrow. A Dundee United victory would see the Tangerines creating their own four points lead of Philippe Clements side.

Then it’s all going to be about which one gets sacked first, Naismith or Clement?

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1 Comment

  1. Not at our fluent best by any means today?
    Despite that, we still created enough of big chances to have won possibly by more than just the 2 goal margin?
    With not converting those chances, we ended up having a more uncomfortable afternoon, than it could and should have been?
    Another Scottish game where the officials and VAR will take centre stage, and must admit to being in bit of a state of shock, with both penalty decisions, eventually getting the right decisions as the outcome?
    Nothing new about performance levels dropping off after an international break?
    Especially from ourselves, with so many away on international duty?
    Yet the diets had 2 full weeks to prepare, and still have very little to offer, and this with ourselves nowhere near the levels, we are capable of producing?
    But 3 points in the bag, and everyone getting through the game without any injuries, is always very welcome?
    Sets ourselves up nicely for the CL now, and maybe our performance today, did reflect upon a far bigger game on Wednesday, so having bit of a stroll today is totally acceptable imo?

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