Hearts Archives - Page 4 of 10

Hearts 2-2 Celtic: Fiery Drama at Tynecastle Cauldron Ends Even

Hearts came back from behind twice to earn a point in a 2-2 epic against title holders Celtic. Benjamin Nygren gave Celtic the lead from a free-kick inside seven minutes, before second half goals from Stuart Findlay and Claudio Braga either side of a Hyun-jun Yang tap in ensured both sides left Tynecastle with a share of the points. It is the second time in three days Celtic have drawn 2-2 with a man down, after defender Austin Trusty was shown a straight red before Hearts’ second equaliser. Nygren’s opener came inside seven minutes after he was fouled by Hearts debutant Marc Leonard on the edge of the box. The Swede stepped up, and curled one into the top right corner to become joint top scorer of the Premiership so far this season. It is the first time Celtic have scored a direct free kick in the league since January 2021, when David Turnbull netted against Hibs. Landry Kabore felt he should have had a penalty 23 minutes in after he went down dragging an effort way wide. No VAR check was required however, despite a swarm of protests from the Hearts players and fans. The hosts were gifted a golden opportunity to restore parity with around ten minutes of the half remaining. Austin Trusty failed to play a bouncing ball back to his goalkeeper with his knee or thigh which slipped Alexandros Kyziridis through one on one. The Greek winger could not beat the extended leg of Kasper Schmeichel, who produced a fantastic save to keep his side in front. The equaliser would come for Hearts though three minutes after the restart. Debutant Leonard’s inswinging corner to the back post was met by Stuart Findlay, as the centre half rose highest to nod home his sixth goal of the season. Kyziridis had the chance to make amends for his glaring miss 55 minutes in when a flicked-on header fell into his path, but a last-ditch tackle from Liam Scales inside the area brought the Hearts attack to a halt. Just as the hosts looked to have gained the upper-hand on the defending champions, they were stung by a Hyun-jun Yang tap in. After tremendous combination play from Daizen Maeda and new signing Tomas Cvancara down the left hand side, the Czech forward put it on a plate for Yang to fire Celtic ahead with less than half an hour to go. It came just a minute or two following Cvancara having a looping header hit Craig Gordon’s crossbar, and a minute or two before the new recruit was booked and subsequently subbed off. Quite the five minutes for the attacker. Audible disbelief could be heard around Tynecastle when referee Steven McLean brandished a yellow card for Austin Trusty after he brought down Landry Kabore with around fifteen minutes to play. He was sent to the VAR monitor and would send Trusty off, wit the American adjudged to be the last man and denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Celtic had just brought off an injured Kieran Tierney for Dane Murray a moment prior, with Anthony Ralston then being brought on for Yang to further re-arrange an already makeshift backline. With less than seven minutes to play there was a scramble inside the Celtic box that you were just anticipating to be brought to an end by the sound of Hearts fan raptures. A point-blank stop from Schmeichel again nearly creeped beyond him, but the Dane and Arne Engels made sure it only went passed for a corner. But the league leaders would level proceedings with three minutes of regulated time to go. Oisin McEntee headed down a ball from a set-play, and Claudio Braga was in the right place to unleash a rocket passed Schmeichel to give the home side the equaliser just before the fourth official’s board confirmed an additional eight minutes to play. Blair Spittal clipped the bar deep into injury time after the ball fell to him first time just outside the box. It was always rising, but hearts would have been in the mouths of many a Celtic supporter. The draw means that things only get tighter at the top of the table. Celtic are now third still six points behind leaders Hearts, but a win for Rangers over Dundee means the Ibrox side sit second now four points behind the Jambos. Celtic have European matters to take of at home to Utrecht on Thursday before they are back in action domestically at home to Falkirk on Sunday. As for Hearts, they are on the road Saturday as they will hope to seize the opportunity of going further ahead of Celtic before they play, travelling to Tannadice to face Dundee United. HEARTS: Gordon 5, Halkett 7, McCart 5 (McEntee 71’ 3), Braga 7, Kabore 5 (Wilson 90+4 1), Steinwender 4 (Spittal 86’ 1), Milne 5, Findlay 6, Magnusson 4 (Kerjota 71’ 2), Leonard 5, Kyziridis 5 CELTIC: Schemichel 7, Scales 6, Trusty 3, Nygren 6, Cvancara 5 (Tounekti 60’ 2), Yang 5 (Ralston 77’ 2), Araujo 6, Engels 6, Maeda 4, McGregor 5, Tierney 5 (Murray 73’ 1)

January 25, 2026

Homecoming Move: Hearts Bring Back Marc Leonard

Heart of Midlothian have added a familiar face to their squad after confirming the loan signing of Marc Leonard until the end of the season. The midfielder’s return to Tynecastle could be crucial, with injuries and suspensions affecting options in the middle of the park. Originally part of the club’s youth setup, Leonard left Scotland as a teenager to continue his development in England. A spell with Brighton’s academy helped shape his career before making his mark at Northampton Town. During his time there, he became a consistent starter, playing over 100 matches. Those performances eventually earned him a permanent move to Birmingham City. Opportunities have been harder to come by this season in the Championship, with most appearances coming from the bench. Experience north of the border should help him settle quickly, and there’s clearly motivation to prove a point back where it all started. Leonard spoke to Hearts media as part of his announcement, where he said, “Once I spoke to the manager. I knew that this was the place for me to come back” “I was over the moon, the conversation went really well and I’m so glad I’m here” He will be available against Celtic this weekend and is likely to make his first professional appearance in Maroon to cover the sparse midfield area.

January 23, 2026

Top but Still Underdogs: Hearts Eye Celtic

Derek McInnes has been interviewed ahead of a title fighting game this weekend. The Jambos will host Celtic on Sunday as the two sides are separated by only 6 points at the top of the Scottish Premiership. He said “Obviously it’s a big game on Sunday, we’ve still got a lot going for us with the squad and it’s not all doom and gloom. I need to stress that” “Injuries are part and parcel, losing key players is part and parcel and I don’t want anyone from a Hearts persuasion to lose any sort of hope or optimism” “It’s a brilliant game to be involved in and we are really looking forward to it” “So whatever Hearts team gets put out we will be ready for Celtic, and ready to compete. Just as we’ve always been” “We will always probably be seen as the underdog even though we are top of the league” “Last time out, maybe there was some of you guys (media) and some people out there last time we played Celtic, thought Hearts had a right good chance of winning it” “We believe we can win the game on Sunday, regardless of who’s fit and who’s not” The Edinburgh side have won both previous games against Celtic this season, and this will be the 3rd different Celtic manager they have faced across those games.

January 22, 2026

VAR shouldn’t be getting involved – Derek McInnes after Scottish Cup exit

Derek McInnes suggests that VAR’s decision to rule out Tomas Magnusson’s opening goal was “harsh” following Hearts’ penalty shootout exit to Falkirk in the Scottish Cup. Playing their third game in six days, Elton Kabangu’s missed penalty allowed Ben Parkinson to send the Bairns into the hat for the 5th round. McInnes felt the shootout defeat “stings that little bit more”. ‘There were a lot of people at the start of this week that said to me about prioritising St Mirren over the cup game, and I didn’t like that mentality, I thought we should be prioritising both.’ ‘I think it’s important we are a strong cup team, it’s been a tough week, its took its toll in terms of injuries, suspensions, and the effort put out by the players output from the players’ ‘We started the game really strongly. I thought we would really need to get off to a flying start and impose ourselves in the game, and I thought we were brilliant in that first half hour.’ ‘But we were guilty of not taking enough shots, not working the goalkeeper enough, when you are as dominant as that in the first half hour youve got to make hay, and we didn’t.’ ‘We lose a poor goal, which skews everything; it’s the type of goal we don’t normally lose, but getting done in the wide areas isn’t good enough.’ Hearts had initially taken the lead in the 53rd minute, after Magnusson crashed home from close range. But VAR deemed that the Norwegian used his hand to control the ball, keeping the score level. McInnes was “disappointed” with the intervention. ‘The angle I’ve seen is not definitive that that’s a handball unless VAR have seen it from the main stand side.’ But I don’t think VAR should be getting involved in that. I didn’t see any real motion from Tomas [Magnusson] to gain an advantage; it’s the type of thing that was said VAR wouldn’t be involved in a couple of weeks ago at Hampden with Willie Collum. I thought it was really harsh. Captain Lawrence Shankland was forced off after suffering an injury, whilst the details of the knock remain unclear, McInnes may be without his starman before their table-top showdown with Celtic next week. ‘Not great, we don’t know exactly what he’s done, when it comes to penalties, you want to keep him on for obvious reasons, it doesn’t look good for next week anyway.’ We’ve got 8 days before we play Celtic, we’ll dust ourselves down, well see where we are, well get over the disappointment because that’s the job, and we’ll be ready for them.

January 18, 2026

Hearts 1-1 Falkirk (4-5 on pens): Parkinson the hero as Bairns progress to 5th round

Hearts 1-1 Falkirk (4-5 penalties) Parkinson (59′) Shankland (85′ pen) Ben Parkinson’s goal and winning penalty sent Falkirk to the 5th round of the Scottish Cup, dumping the league leaders out at Tynecastle. Hearts started brightly, in an otherwise bleak first half. Claudio Braga raced clear of the Falkirk backline in the opening minutes, but scuffed his left-footed striker wide of Scott Bain’s goal. Alexandros Kyziridis produced a world-class goal to break the deadlock against Falkirk in September. He attempted a similar 25-yard strike after collecting Tomas Magnusson’s cross-field ball, but Bain gathered the bobbling effort. Derek McInnes’s side enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 25 minutes without scoring, to the delight of the large travelling support, who filled most of the Roseburn end. Chances were few and far between for the visitors in the first half. Leon McCann raced towards Alexander Schwolow’s goal on the half-hour mark after picking up a pocket of space. His left-footed strike had power, but was pushed away by the Austrian goalkeeper. The visitors had the final chance of the half when Filip Lissah headed over a Miller freekick. Neither side looked likely to find a goal as Nick Walsh blew his whistle for half-time. McGlynn opted for a triple substitution at the break, including the introduction of Sheffield United loanee Louie Marsh. McInnes kept the same eleven, but looked to have switched Kyziridis to the right flank, in an attempt to penetrate the visiting defence. Magnusson thought he had broken the deadlock in the 53rd minute. The ball broke kindly to the Norwegian following a hopeful long ball, stroking home from close range amidst a sea of Falkirk bodies. But a lengthy VAR check ensued, deeming that the midfielder had controlled the ball with his hand, keeping the scores level. The visiting support cheered the decision and didn’t have long to wait before celebrating again. Substitute Parkinson got across Jordi Altena to tap home Filip Lissah’s low cross in the 58th minute, sending the away allocation into frenzy. The goal galvanised the visitors, and Parkinson should have doubled their advantage after racing clear on goal moments later. But the striker failed to trouble Schwolow, slicing his strike into the Roseburn Stand. With 15 minutes to play, McInnes turned to the latest incomer, Islam Chesnokov, injecting pace into Hearts’ attack. In truth, Bain in the Falkirk goal had enjoyed a quiet second period. The hosts were awarded a lifeline with five minutes to play. Chesnokov made an immediate impact after being hacked in the box by Leon McCann, Shankland powered home the resultant penalty to level proceedings, and set up extra time. A tense extra time period ensued, as both teams wrestled for the winning goal. Miller tested Schwolow with a left-footed strike after finding space on the edge of the box. The low drive looked set to break the net, but the Austrian pushed clear to maintain level proceedings. Spittal went closest for Hearts in the 113th minute with a 25-yard free kick, which dipped narrowly over Bain’s crossbar. Falkirk responded with four minutes to play. McCann marauded into space on the left, his cross broke to substitute Ethan Ross, who blasted from 6 yards towards goal. Schwolow held firm to divert the powerful strike, and Stuart Findlay cleared the danger. Falkirk held their nerve in the penalty shootout, scoring all five of their penalties. Kabangu placed his left-footed strike over Bain’s bar before Parkinson delivered the killer blow. A marathon 120 minutes ended in delight for McGlynn’s determined bunch, for McInnes and Hearts, full focus will shift to their league title charge. Hearts: Schwolow 7 Kent 6 Halkett 7 McCart 6 Milne 6 Altena 6 Magnusson 6 Baningime 7 Kyziridis 6 Braga 5 Shankland 6 Substitutes: Spittal 5 Findlay 5 Kabore 5 Chesnokov 5 Kabangu 3 Forrester 3 Falkirk: Bain 7 McCann 6 Henderson 7 Allan 7 Lissah 7 Cartwright 6 Spencer 7 Yeats 6 Tait 7 Miller 7 Stewart 6 Substitutes: Marsh 5 Wilson 5 Parkinson 6 Adams 4 Ross 3 Graham 2

January 17, 2026

“We said at halftime, this can be done” – McInnes

Derek McInnes described his side’s 2-0 victory over St Mirren as “brilliant” as Hearts secured a second 10-man win in three days. His side survived 45 minutes with 10 men to beat Dundee on Sunday afternoon, butMcInnes believes this victory “tops it by a long way”. “We were in trouble. We got the experience on Sunday. We played similarly, although Dundee played a different shape to St Mirren.” “We were still carrying a threat with three at the top of the pitch to try and carry a threat, give us a bit of oxygen, give us a bit of relief. The three lads, Lawrence, Claudio, and Kyzi, carried a fight for us and gave us some good moments, but without scoring the goal.” Beni Baningime’s late challenge on Ronald Idowu gave the Jambos a mountain to climb in the 15th minute, but once more, they rose from the canvas to deliver a crucial victory, maintaining their six-point gap at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. “Beni Baningime, who’s as popular a boy in that dressing room as anybody, is in tears. We had to help him out. We had to dig ourselves out of a bit of trouble.” “With 10 men against a team like St Mirren, it’s not always easy. We thought we had enough encouragement at times, we had a couple of good opportunities, good breaks.” “It’s a great bit of play in the lead-up to Lawrence’s goal where the captain sets the right tone, gets the goal and then we have something to hang on to.” “That’s due to the effort of the lads. We can only set them up. I can only give them the instruction of what’s the best chance to get that clean sheet.” The win maintains their 100% winning start to 2026, keeping three clean sheets in the process. McInnes’ side have another quick turnaround, as they welcome Falkirk to Tynecastle for the Scottish Cup 4th Round on Saturday evening.

January 15, 2026

Craig Gordon – Hearts Hero?

Craig Gordon delivered yet another late-game moment of magic for Hearts last weekend, reminding everyone that age is just a number in football. In a tense Scottish Premiership battle at Dens Park, Hearts went ahead through Claudio Braga’s strike, but they were soon reduced to ten men after first-choice keeper Alexander Schwolow was sent off just before half-time. That’s when Gordon, now 43 and making his first appearance this season, was called into action and he stepped up to the challenge with a good save just before the end of the half. But it was stoppage time when the magic happened. Dundee were desperately pushing for an equaliser, and Gordon produced a stunning reflex save to claw away Emile Acquah’s downward header and secure a priceless 1-0 victory for Hearts. It was a moment of brilliance that preserved all three points and kept Hearts firmly in the title hunt and it may prove to be the pivotal moment for the Jambos come the end of the season. What made the save so special wasn’t just the timing in those dying seconds of a crucial match but also the sheer athleticism on display from the goalkeeper. After coming on from the bench and immediately having to deal with pressure moments, Gordon showed the kind of sharp reactions that defy expectations at his age. Fans and former players were quick to praise the Scotland international, comparing his late-game intervention to some of the greatest goalkeeping moments in the sport. Former Hearts player Ryan Stevenson said “Every player is running to congratulate Craig Gordon. That’s one of the best saves I’ve ever seen. Unbelievable”. That talk of “greatest saves” naturally brings us back to one of the defining moments of Gordon’s career, his incredible stop for Sunderland against Bolton Wanderers back in December 2010. In a Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Gordon somehow managed to deny Bolton’s Zat Knight from point blank range in first-half stoppage time. That full-stretch save was later voted the best save in the first 20 years of the Premier League, an accolade that speaks volumes about its quality Craig Gordon continues to remind us why he’s one of the most respected goalkeepers of his generation and potentially a hero after Sunday’s game for Hearts.

January 14, 2026

Hearts Confirm Chesnokov Signing

Heart of Midlothian have completed the signing of Islam Chesnokov, with the Kazakhstan international officially joining the club ahead of the second half of the 2025/26 season. The 26-year-old arrives at Tynecastle after leaving FC Tobol Kostanay at the end of his contract. Hearts had agreed a pre-contract deal with Chesnokov in June 2025. The new signing primarily plays as a right-sided winger but is capable of playing across the forward line. He built a strong reputation at Tobol, where he was a regular starter and a consistent contributor. During his time at the club, he scored 29 goals in 92 games across all competitions. On the international stage, Chesnokov has 21 senior caps for the Kazakhstan national team, scoring 3 goals. The winger will wear squad number 99 and is expected to provide depth in wide attacking areas as Hearts continue their impressive domestic campaign so far. He joins an already strong attacking fleet of Lawrence Shankland, Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga, who have all been regular starters for Derek McInnes this season. Chesnokov becomes the Jambos’ second signing of the January transfer window after right back Jordi Altena completed his move last week.

January 6, 2026

Hearts 1-0 Livingston: Jambos Extend Premiership Lead with Narrow Victory

Hearts 1-0 Livingston Halkett (18′) Livingston made the journey to Tynecastle Park today to take on Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premiership. The last time these two sides met was in September at the Home of the Set Fare Arena where the Jambos won 2-1. Claudio Braga Alexandros Kyziridis with goals for Hearts and Lewis Smith scoring for the Lions. Today’s game sees the Jambos coming in off the back of a Derby day defeat away to Hibernian, and David Martindale’s side lost to Dundee United. The away side had the better start to the game, a shot from Scott Pittman just over the bar within the first 3 minutes. McInnes’ side had their first chance after 10 minutes, Tomas Magnusson with a left-footed shot but rolled wide of the post. Hearts went 1-0 up in 18 minutes, a header from Craig Halkett, crossed in by their newest signing Jordi Altena, who makes his debut. Halkett has now scored 6 goals for the Jam Tarts. A few VAR shouts throughout the game for the home side, 2 of which were for penalties, but were both cleared by the officials. Livingston were pressing to find a goal in the second half, a good chance from Mohammad Sylla, but it was headed right off the post. The game finished 1-0 to Hearts and puts them 6 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with their next game on Sunday against Dundee. Livingston have yet to win a game since August, and they will face Kilmarnock at home on Saturday. Hearts: Schwolow (7), Altena (8), Halkett (8) Findlay (7), Milne (6), Baningime (7), Devlin (8), Magnusson (7), Braga (6), Kyziridis (7), Shankland (7). Substitutions: Steinwender (4), Kerjota (5), Kent (3) Livingston: Prior (5), Montano (5), Kabongolo (6), McGowan (6), Finlayson (6), Susoho (5), Sylla (6), Pittman (5), May (5), Yengi (6), McLennan (5). Substitutions: Lawal (5), Danso (3), Zimmerman (3), Muirhead (3)

January 3, 2026

Watt’s Rise, Derby Days, and Chasing the Jambos: SPFL Matchday 20 Breakdown

Scottish Premiership football returns for 2026 with an action-packed card on Saturday afternoon. Here are the key talking points to watch out for this weekend. Player to Watch: Elliot Watt Elliot Watt has evolved into a crucial cog in Jens Berthel Askou’s Fir Park machine. Having featured 25 times this term with four goal involvements, the midfielder has emerged as a standout in the Scottish Premiership. Following a loan spell at relegated St Johnstone last season, the former Burton Albion man has flourished for Motherwell, playing with a high level of consistency and maturity. With 2026 now underway, this could be a career-defining year for Watt. While Steve Clarke’s Scotland midfield seems settled, Watt’s current form suggests he could force his way into international contention. As Motherwell host St Mirren on Saturday, Watt will be important for the Steelmen, as they look to reclaim third place. Game of the Round: Celtic vs. Rangers The first domestic fixture of the year sees Scotland’s two powerhouses collide at Celtic Park, yet this episode carries a unique level of wonder, with both clubs in states of transition. Pressure is mounting on Wilfried Nancy. The Celtic boss has endured a chaotic start to his tenure, losing five of his opening seven matches. Despite claiming to see “good stuff” in their recent defeat to Motherwell, Nancy’s side missed the opportunity to move level with leaders Hearts. Conversely, Danny Rohl has steadied the ship at Ibrox. Since his arrival, he has reduced the gap to the summit from 13 points to six. He may have tasted defeat in his first derby during the League Cup semi-final, but a run of just one loss in eleven league matches has reignited a title charge that seemed impossible just months ago. Victory for either manager will be crucial for the remaining months of the season. Team in the Spotlight: Hearts The league leaders return to Tynecastle to host Livingston, desperate to banish the memory of their derby defeat at Easter Road last weekend. Having reached the midway point of the season at the summit of the Scottish Premiership, Derek McInnes will be keen for his side to maintain their challenge in 2026. They face a struggling Livingston side, but will be focused on extending their unbeaten home record. Victory could build further breathing space from the chasing pack, depending on the result at Celtic Park. The home side may be aided by their latest recruit, Spanish right-back Jordi Altena, who officially joined from the Dutch second division on January 1st.

January 2, 2026

Hearts