A damaging league debut defeat for Ange Postecoglou as Celtic’s manager. A goal down at half-time, his team rallied to deservedly equalise through Anthony Ralston early in the second half, but were then undone by a familiar failing at the death as they failed to defend a routine free kick delivered by Michael Smith and headed home by John Souttar.
The Australian was finally able to call on Carl Starfelt in defence, but the Swede looked more Daniel Majstorovic than Johan Mjallby as Swedish centre backs go on this evidence, while Kyogo Furuhashi came on as a late substitute but too late to leave much of an initial impression.
Craig Gordon saved well from Ryan Christie, another substitute, James Forrest and Starfelt in a frantic finale but Hearts held on. Celtic must grow from here to challenge Rangers in the campaign ahead, while the home side will see this as a marker for their own ambition to fight for the European places this season.
Starting with a 2-1 win at Tynecastle was the standard set by Postecoglou’s predecessors. Neil Lennon won by that score after succeeding Brendan Rodgers in February 2019 and Rodgers had also started with a 2-1 victory here in August 2016. The Australian has inherited a muddle not of his making at the club and will have to rebuild on the hoof as the season has started before he has completed the number of new signings required to address last season’s deficiencies.
At least Starfelt, a Sweden international and much-needed new option in defence, was finally available after his recent move from Rubin Kazan in Russia. He and Nir Bitton provided a more experienced centre-back partnership than Stephen Welsh, 21, and 18-year-old Dane Murray had in the midweek Champions League exit against Midtjylland of Denmark.
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Kyogo Furuhashi, a swift and nimble creator, was on the bench after his transfer from Vissel Kobe in Japan, where Postecoglou found him more of a pain to play against than team-mate Andrés Iniesta when he was previously in charge of Yokohama F Marinos there.
Hearts were not without their own pressures, with supporters not sure if Robbie Neilson’s second spell as manager at Tynecastle will work out as well as his first, despite the procession of the Championship title last season that enabled them to raise the flag last night. A shock Scottish Cup exit at Brora Rangers remains a nasty blot on Neilson’s record.
Celtic applauded Hearts on before owner Ann Budge and Andrew McKinlay, their chief executive, performed the flag-raising ceremony. There were some boos among the cheers, although they were probably directed at the SPFL for the harsh points-per-game relegation they imposed on Hearts after the pandemic initially struck back in March 2020.
What received a resounding, unqualified reception was the opening goal after just eight minutes. Starfelt looked vulnerable as Josh Ginnelly made space for a cross from the right and although Liam Boyce could not convert on the spin, Gary Mackay-Steven was waiting at the back post to score a simple goal against his former club. Celtic’s marking left much to be desired as he did so.
David Turnbull and Callum McGregor both snatched at shots after being found in promising positions by Greg Taylor before Boyce headed a corner over at the other end when he might have done better from Smith’s inswinger from Hearts’ left and Mackay-Steven played Smith in for swipe of a shot that went high and wide.
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Neither side slowed much from a fast start and there was an enjoyable zip to the game, with plenty of sharp passes and tackles exchanged. Starfelt grew into it after his shaky start, gradually comprehending that Scottish football does not take any prisoners in the pace it usually unfolds at.
McGregor came forward for another shot, this time deflected straight to Craig Gordon’s grateful gloves but Celtic’s pressure was gathering momentum as half-time approached, although an equaliser eluded them as Turnbull stroked another chance casually over. Largely anonymous among all the attacks from the visitors was Odsonne Édouard, the French striker is now in Brighton & Hove Albion’s sights for a fee approaching the £20 million mark after a move to Leicester City broke down this summer.
Hearts broke out just before the break and Alex Cochrane shot just wide when he might well have scored after a cross from Smith, his opposite wing back in the home side’s 5-2-3 system, made it all the way to him from right to left across Celtic’s box. It was a reminder that Postecoglou’s side had to keep the back door shut while simultaneously striving for parity.
When Celtic’s equaliser arrived nine minutes into the second half it came from a surprise source. Anthony Ralston can sometimes appear clunky at right back, but there was none of that as he played a one-two with Édouard and then gracefully evaded Souttar and Stephen Kingsley before scoring precisely with his weaker left foot. It wasn’t only the home defenders left doing double takes, but also many at the press desks. Nobody had seen it coming, perhaps including Postecoglou, despite his preference for full backs to come inside and play in midfield in manner of Pep Guardiola’s at Manchester City.
Yet it was deserved on the balance of play and the game was now up for grabs, with both sides probably grateful for the respite provided by an injury to Andy Halliday. The former Rangers manager was able to resume but Neilson beefed up his midfield to avoid a repeat of Ralston’s run inside.
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Postecoglou: There’s maybe a lack of cohesion
Ange Postecoglou said Celtic have to start taking their chances after watching his side slump to a 2-1 defeat at Hearts in their opening league game of the season (Douglas Alexander writes). Although Celtic conceded a late goal from a free-kick to lose, the Australian refused to blame his much-maligned defence for the defeat.
“I have felt that in our three competitive games we are just not getting the rewards for our play and when that happens you keep the opposition in the game,” he said. “We get into so many good crossing areas and the crosses ended up out on the touchline, so for me it’s probably the area we need to improve the most.
“Defensively, it’s not like we’ve been put under pressure for periods in any of the games, but when you keep the opposition in the game there is always a possibility from set pieces or counter attacks. There’s maybe a lack of cohesion. I have changed things around, I have played Ryan (Christie) as a left winger, I have played James (Forrest) there today. It could be a few of those things, but at some point the responsibility comes to those players to take the opportunities we are providing for them. At the moment we are not doing that.”
Robbie Neilson said the home fans made the difference as John Souttar scored their 89th-minute winner. “If this was last season, with no fans, that would have ended 0-0,” he argued. “When the fans start putting the energy back on the pitch, especially towards the end, the players get that extra yard of aggression to press. They gave us the goal. Yes, the players scored it, but the fans pushed us. It was brilliant to feel.”
