CELTIC’S RECORD-BREAKING 69-game unbeaten run in Scottish domestic football came to a stunning end as the champions were thrashed 4-0 by Hearts on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’ side lost for the first time since St Johnstone beat the Glasgow club 2-1 in May 2016.
Goals from Harry Cochrane and Kyle Lafferty put Hearts two up by half-time at Tynecastle in Edinburgh before David Milinkovic’s brace sealed Celtic’s fate in the Scottish Premiership clash.
Celtic had set a new British record unbeaten domestic run when they reached 63 matches without defeat last month.
Despite their painful loss, Celtic remain two points clear of second placed Aberdeen with a game in hand.
Hearts, who were forced to make seven changes for the match due to a horrendous injury list, took a deserved 26th minute lead through 16-year-old Cochrane before former Rangers striker Lafferty doubled their advantage nine minutes later.
On-loan winger Milinkovic made it 3-0 two minutes after the break before he added a fourth from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining to seal Hearts biggest victory over the Hoops since 1895.
It was the first taste of Scottish defeat for Rodgers, who has won four successive trophies since arriving at Celtic Park last year, as his side failed to score for the first time in 74 matches.
Celtic restored Kieran Tierney, Jozo Simunovic and Mikael Lustig to their defence after resting them for the midweek win over Hamilton.
However, they looked shambolic at times when dealing with a Hearts side that put them under pressure from the start.
The warning signs were there when Lafferty got behind the Celtic defence early on, only for a contentious offside decision to save the visitors. Then Ross Callachan came close with a fizzing strike from just outside the box.
Christophe Berra then sent a header just wide from a Don Cowie corner before teenager Cochrane got his first goal for Hearts with a superb strike.
Cowie pounced on some loose play by Dedryck Boyata and worked the ball to Cochrane who took a touch before smashing a left-foot strike low past the despairing Craig Gordon.
Celtic barely had time to reorganise before Lafferty added a second.
Milinkovic burst into the Celtic half and picked out Lafferty with a great cross-field pass.
The Northern Irish striker took a couple of touches before firing a sensational angled strike in off the far post from 20 yards.
The Hoops made two changes at the break with Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong coming on for Olivier Ntcham and Kieran Tierney, but they couldn’t stop Hearts adding a third almost immediately.
Celtic defender Simunovic made a mess of dealing with a hopeful long ball and it fell to Milinkovic at the edge of the box. He took it round Gordon before rolling a shot past Mikel Lustig on the line.
Celtic did rally with Jon McLaughlin at full-stretch to push away a fierce strike from Leigh Griffiths and Scott Sinclair blazing over.
But it was Hearts who added another from the spot through Milinkovic after Gordon needlessly brought down Callachan as the Jambos recorded their third win in a row.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
I hope they humiliate england and shame them off the pitch
The All Blacks’ succession planning and their blend in their squad of consistency of selection and rewarding form remains far ahead of any other country’s. Hopefully under Mr Schmidt Ireland can achieve this clarity in selection.
But this clarity and consistency stems partly from the media and fans in the rugby culture, where Chiefs fans are understand less representation from their team despite their dominance over recent years, and that the primary factor for selection in achievement for the All Blacks.
Crusaders and Hurricanes have had the highest representation for a few years now, despite Chiefs’ dominance, but there is no aspect of begrudging from the media, you wouldn’t get the likes of Conor George and #jokeshop, as all the different franchises/provinces are prepared to support anyone in the All Black. We can learn a lot from that
I would say this will be the series where Barrett becomes first choice fly half and establish himself as no.2 for the RWC behind DC
New Zealand have 3 of the top 5 10s in the world. in my opinion this is the current order, not much between them though
1: Dan Carter
2: Aaron Cruden
3: Jonny Sexton
4: Beauden Barrett
5: Quade Cooper
Quade cooper? Have you been watching super rugby this year? Toomua is better than him now
Mate I love Matt Toomua, he’s a great player, but it’s a lot easier to play behind Brumbies’ pack than the Reds. Cooper will still be first choice for the Wallabies
Cooper has been playing behind a rubbish pack and alongside inexperienced and out of form backs whereas Toomua has been surrounded by the complete opposite.
The Reds have been nothing short of awful this year but he is still a class act and can do things arguably no other 10 in the world can do.
I expext both to be in the wallaby side but with QC’s experience at test level and his great form in the autumn internationals last year, he will be 10 and Toomua 12
Beale will be at 12 to start at least
Beale is going to play 12 this year I think
I think cooper on his day is the best around but he has been brutal every match I have watched this year. He played very good in the autumn internationals vs wales and ireland but right now toomua is playing much better
I cant see him at 12 alongside QC. Both have question marks over their defence which the opposition will surely target.
Toomua on the other hand is a very assured defender and still brings a bit of the creative spark. Beale will make the wider squad.
Reckon for the wallaby tests against the French it will be:
White
QC
Toomua
Kurindrani
Ashley-Cooper
Cummins
Folau
More interesting will be the forwards selection as oz have some good young locks and props tearing it up this season, one of which got the better of the Springbok front row at the weekend in the brumbies vs sharks match
From what I’ve read from Australia, Beale will be 12 for the France tests at least, Toomua’s a good man to have on the bench. Henry Speight will be eligible this year so might well be on one of the wings
Jessie mogg surley in with a shout aswel
No one but Folau has a shot at fullback, first name on the teamsheet
Name of the song!?
I reckon that’s Anscombe for Wales set in stone now with that squad announcement