Celtic fans had little to cheer after ending their silent protest as a goalless home draw with Hibernian allowed Hearts to move to the top of the Premiership with a 3-0 win against Falkirk at Tynecastle.
The Celtic Fans Collective had organised “12 minutes of silence from your 12th man” at the start of the game to continue the protest against the Hoops’ board and its transfer dealings. While the atmosphere improved, Celtic drew a blank for the fourth time this season as Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi hit the bar and Hibs held on, which had the knock-on effect of doing a favour for their Edinburgh rivals.
Brendan Rodgers said he could not fault his side beyond their finishing, with Celtic having produced 24 shots, six of which were on target. “If you look at all the metrics in the game, we created big chances, moved the ball really well. And our only downside was that killer touch in the box,” he said.
“So I can’t be displeased with the performance. You always want to win and you want to win well. And if we get one of those opportunities in the first half, it just opens the game up. But we just couldn’t quite make the finishing touch. Why? It’s a bit of everything. It’s technique, it’s a bit of luck, it’s really good goalkeeping, defenders making blocks. But what’s important is I’ve been here in 0-0s before and some of the ones this season, we haven’t been creative. I thought we were creative in some really good areas.”
Asked about the protest, Rodgers said: “I can only focus on the football. That’s the challenge for me at the moment, to give the supporters that belief that we will continue to improve. And I think they would have liked that performance. Obviously, they would have loved to have won the game and I want people to be coming away and talking about the football and the performance rather than the protests and the silence. But the players reacted really well to it. And after that 12th minute, you really felt the support and the lift, which can make the difference.”
Rampant Hearts moved two points clear of Celtic at the top after Alexandros Kyziridis’s wonder strike set them on the way to a 3-0 victory at Tynecastle. The Greek winger, one of several new signings unearthed for the Edinburgh club by the data firm Jamestown Analytics over the summer, broke the deadlock with an audacious effort midway through the first half. Lawrence Shankland, the captain, then fired home his third goal in two games before defender Craig Halkett headed the third early in the second half.
Derek McInnes hailed Kyziridis afterwards, calling the strike “unbelievable … and it had to be to beat Scott Bain, who I thought was really good for Falkirk. He made some brilliant saves and it had to be exactly where it went, in the top corner. What a brilliant moment for Kizzy. I thought he carried the fight for us today and got them on the back foot. His goal was magnificent.”
Jimmy Thelin insisted he does not fear the sack after Aberdeen suffered a late collapse to lose 2-0 against Motherwell. The Dons’ winless and goalless start to the season continued as they conceded twice in added time at Fir Park. Aberdeen’s goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov let Johnny Koutroumbis’ shot slip through his grasp in the second minute of stoppage time and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos converted from the penalty spot minutes later.
It is now 615 minutes since the Pittodrie side last scored a league goal. Thelin may have guided Aberdeen to their first Scottish Cup success in 35 years, but the reaction of the travelling supporters at Fir Park suggested the tide is turning against the Swedish manager.
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“You can’t be afraid of that sort of thing, you have to be strong, and have the belief and energy to do the job every day,” Thelin said. “I never think about these things because there are some things I can’t control. As long as I manage this club, it’s my responsibility to turn this around. I always try to talk with them [the board] daily so we know where we are, but it’s not my job to talk about myself.”
Kilmarnock secured their first league win of the season by beating Dundee United 2-0 at Tannadice. Goals from Bruce Anderson and Robbie Deas sealed a win at the sixth attempt for Killie – following four draws and a defeat – with Max Stryjek denying Zac Sapsford’s spot-kick for the hosts late on.
St Mirren leapfrogged the Tangerines to move up to third in the table after Killian Phillips’ strike gave them a 1-0 win over Dundee.
