Hearts show late steel to turn derby Celtic's way
A frantic finish at Tynecastle saw Heart of Midlothian overturn Celtic's late equaliser with two goals in the final minutes, reigniting a rivalry that has simmered all season.
The derby between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic has rarely been a quiet affair, and this Boxing Day meeting at Tynecastle Park proved no exception. In a cinch Premiership season where the two sides have traded blows without ever quite landing a decisive one, this 3-1 victory for the home team felt like a statement, delivered in the most dramatic fashion possible.
The match began with a jolt. Jim Findlay, once of Celtic, struck inside the first minute to give Hearts the lead, a goal that set the tone for an afternoon of tension and, ultimately, late fireworks. The hosts held that advantage for much of the game, but Celtic's Robbie Allison equalised in the 82nd minute, and for a moment it seemed the points would be shared, as they were in October's goalless draw.
Instead, Hearts found another gear. Kodi Forsyth, another former Celtic player, restored the lead in the 87th minute, and Robbie Parry, on as a substitute, added a third in the 90th to seal a win that will resonate beyond the result itself.
The connections between the two clubs run deep, and the scoreline was shaped by those with a foot in both camps. Findlay's early goal was a reminder of his 305 appearances for Celtic, while Forsyth's winner carried a similar weight. Scott Kelly, who spent over a decade at Celtic and scored 135 goals for them, led the line for Hearts but was replaced before the late drama. The old boys, it seemed, had the final word.
Celtic's selection told its own story. They changed shape from their usual 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 DM Wide, and left some familiar names on the bench, including Edisón Ditta and Ewan Jones, both of whom came on at half-time. The absence of Wandile Mofokeng through injury forced David Smith into the centre of defence, and he was arguably Celtic's best player, completing 77 of 78 passes. Yet it was Hearts who found the moments that mattered.
For Hearts, the win extends their recent edge in this fixture, having won 2-1 at Tynecastle in April. For Celtic, it is a setback in a rivalry that remains fiercely competitive, with neither side able to establish clear supremacy this season. The late collapse will sting, but the derby's next chapter is never far away.