‘Ruthless display’ ‘phenomenal’ ‘truly excellent’ Chris Sutton’s Tynecastle verdict
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain - April 16, 2023 Celtic's Matt O'Riley celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Pre-match the pressure was apparently all on Celtic, their lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership had been trimmed down to four.
An away day at a difficult venue following an international break should have put the hoops under pressure but that has been said about most of this season’s away matches.
From the fourth minute when Matt O’Riley delivered a brilliant opening goal Celtic were in control, playing a brand of football that the home team couldn’t get near.
When the passing was crisp Celtic were on a different level, the passes that went astray saw Hearts panic in possession and rushing into mistakes.
Ruthless display from Celtic. Totally bossed the game at a difficult venue. Some of their passages of play were truly excellent. Matt O Riley phenomenal. Need to take this confidence into the game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday ?
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) October 22, 2023
O’Riley was the provider for Daizen Maeda to score Celtic’s second with Hearts fortunate that the deficit was only two at the break.
Reo Hatate missed an early penalty but Kyogo Furuhashi and Tomoki Iwata made no mistake either side of a consolation from Lawrence Shankland as Celtic restored their seven point lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership table.