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The dominant Edinburgh side powered eight ahead of their Glasgow rivals at the summit of the Scottish top flight to bolster their early title credentials and deepen the struggles around the Celtic team.

Alexandros Kyziridis' fine strike and Lawrence Shankland's penalty gave the Hearts team a 3-1 lead that the reigning champions could not recover from.

The young defender - among three youth players in the Celtic XI - scored an own goal early on to put Hearts ahead at a energetic their home ground, and it was the youngster's infringement that led to the penalty.

Callum McGregor's classy first goal of the season had swiftly equalized Hearts' opener, and the Swedish attacker almost put Rodgers' team in front, choosing placement over power and allowing the Hearts keeper to make a crucial stop.

But Derek McInnes' irrepressible Hearts seized control again to hand the visitors to back-to-back losses for the initial occasion since last year.

It also gives the Hearts a significant lead at the summit.

The last time they were this far ahead was in the 2005-2006 season under their former manager, 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.

The Hearts coach, whose Aberdeen side were runners-up to the champions on four occasions, has been working hard to downplay championship discussions, as Hearts seek their first top-flight crown since the 1960s.

Rodgers has seen it all before at the club - both perfect and shaky beginnings to a season. He's yet to finish second best.

But on Sunday's evidence, this Edinburgh outfit showed they deserve serious consideration.

Match Analysis: Hearts Take Advantage of Depleted The Visitors

The Edinburgh side started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in the league this season - the popular attacker poked a cross in for Shankland to stab wide.

Celtic didn't help themselves with some unusual sloppiness in possession and they faltered under their initial test.

A headed effort from Braga was touched on to a post by Kasper Schmeichel and the follow-up from Shankland was diverted goalwards by the hapless defender, in for the absent center-back.

Celtic found their rhythm and started stringing passes together. From one such move, Sebastian Tounekti released the full-back to set up McGregor, who rolled in.

Apart from the Nygren chance, Celtic struggled to create much for striker Kenny or his replacement Shin Yamada amid the absence of injured forwards their key strikers.

The home team rediscovered their energy and versatility in creating chances in the opposition half. The Greek forward, one of the finds of the club's scouting network, struck low past Schmeichel from the edge of the box.

Immediately after, Murray tripped Braga in the inside right channel and Shankland scored. And it could've been an more comprehensive victory, had substitute Ageu not been stopped by Schmeichel.

Celtic's second half was partially encapsulated in a couple of moments involving big-money recruit Engles.

The midfielder's wayward free-kick delivery was in stark contrast to his midweek exploits in the continental victory over their Austrian opponents and the Belgium international was then yellow-carded for a professional foul.

Post-Match Comments

The Hearts manager: "You see how hard the players work, the togetherness. That's not sufficient on its own to win games week in, week out.

"What we have got, is good technical ability. You're witnessing it from a lot of players who have been here previously. Recent additions are eager to show that.

"We're in a positive moment at the minute, but it's just one win. It's crucial for us to maintain this form. We've got loads to do, loads to do. Following the initial fixtures is typically a benchmark of where you are."

The Celtic boss: "It's a really poor goal from our perspective. We failed to push up when the play was recycled as a defensive unit so when they play it, they should have players offside but weren't. We have got to do better with the attempt.

"Plenty of matches to play for. It's still so early. It's just nine matches. Clearly, being eight adrift is not what we would want. The positive is there's numerous fixtures to play.

"We now have to focus on the present and look to find more consistency and better performance in our play."

What's Next for These Teams?

Celtic are back at home on Wednesday against newly-promoted Falkirk (evening kick-off). At the same time in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts are at St Mirren.

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