Hearts roll out red carpet, Celtic walk all over it

Hearts entered the match at Celtic Park with a clear philosophy: to use their attacking prowess as a shield, believing that relentless pressure could keep the opposition at bay.

In practice, the strategy backfired. Celtic controlled the tempo and space, turning Hearts’ offensive intent into a liability that left them exposed at the back.

Tom English argues that Hearts were badly misjudged by their own tactics, with the attacking mindset providing more opportunities for Celtic to exploit rather than defend.

For Hearts, the lesson is clear: the team must reassess how they balance attack and defence, especially in hostile environments where opponents can dictate the game.

Celtic, meanwhile, will look to build on this dominance as they prepare for their next fixtures, while Hearts will need to rethink their game plan to avoid repeating the same mistake.