Hearts v Celtic preview by numbers
Sunday brings the opportunity for Celtic to clinch 6 in a row for the first time since the Lisbon Lions in 1970/71, which was in turn the first such event since 1909/10. The 1970/71 triumph saw Celtic winning the league at Tynecastle. Celtic last won the league against Hearts in 2005/06 as Hartson’s goal past Gordon secured the title.
Celtic’s last visit to Tynecastle on the opening day of the season was in many ways one of our hardest match of the season. It was the first of 12 wins by only 1 goal, with the winner in the 81st minute – only Rogic’s 90th minute winner against Motherwell (4-3) was later.
Celtic completed 301 passes that day which remained the lowest pass completion total until 274 on a wind and rain lashed day on the plastic at Hamilton Academicals, 24th December 2016. 82% pass completion is the joint 3rd lowest of the season. 368 attempted passes overall is the lowest of the season. The 55% possession for Celtic is their 3rd lowest of the season.
Celtic managed 7 shots on target, which is the average for league games (7.1) this season. 10 shots were off target compared to an average of 12.7. All shot conversion of 12% is in line with the season average of 13%.
In a scrappy, high speed match, chance creation was limited with 3 chances created and 6 attempted compared to the season averages of 5 and 9.2.
Completing 6 of 17 dribbles, Celtic’s dribble success was 35%, the 4th lowest of the season.
The 19 fouls awarded against Celtic by John Beaton remains the highest number awarded in all league games, and 4 yellow cards also equals the season high. The game was notable for the first honest mistake of the season as Beaton allowed himself to be conned by Jamie Walker into awarding a penalty as he flung himself to the ground with Tierney nicking the ball only, after 35 minutes.
Celtic cleared the ball 12 times to find another Celt, the 2nd highest number of successful clearances of the season. The total of 64 clearances attempted and 52 clearances conceding possession are both easily the highest in the league. Safety first.
Winning 61 challenges, this is a number only bettered by the 63 won at Aberdeen on 29th October 2016. Rising to the challenge. Celtic have not lost more than the 59 challenges Hearts were successful with in this game.
Keeping possession from 65% of all actions, only the 61% against Hamilton Academicals away has been lower.
As for Hearts, the 103 passes they gave possession away from is one of 7 occasions this league season opposition have conceded over 100 passes. Their pass completion of 66% is in line with the average for all Celtic opposition in league games (67%).
Only The Rangers on 31st December 2016 have matched Hearts 6 shots on target that day. Hearts had 10 shots off target which is also a high. Consequently the 16 shots total Hearts had is the seaon high in league games against Celtic, eclipsing the 14 by Ross County on 26th October 2016. The 6% all shot conversion achieved by scoring a penalty is the lowest conversion rate by any team against Celtic other than, obviously, when the opposition do not score.
Hearts created 2 chances from 7 attempts which is better than the opposition average of 5 per 90m.
The 6 yellow cards Beaton administered to Hearts players is a season high by 2.
Hearts overall possession effectiveness of 56% is average compared to 57% for the league opposition.
Forrest’s 8th minute goal is one of only 3 Celtic have scored in the opening 10 minutes in the league. Whereas Sinclair’s 81st minute winner was the first of 18 Celtic have scored in the closing 10 minutes. Although Celtic have not scored in the closing 10 minutes since 5th February vs St Johnstone.
The Hearts penalty came in the 35th minute and between the 31st and 40th minutes is the most common time for Celtic to concede in the league – it has happened 5 times.
This match is one of only two all in the league where Celtic’s xG (Expected Goals) was lower than the opposition – 1.54 to 1.61.
The team for Rodgers’ league debut as manager was: (4-4-2 diamond) Gordon; Lustig, Toure, O’Connell (Rogic 73) Tierney; McGregor, Brown, Armstrong (Sinclair 81); Forrest, Dembele, Griffiths (Janko 83).
Rodgers changed the game on 73 minutes brining on Rogic for O’Connell, and changing the team shape to 3-4-1-2 with Rogic at “10” or AMC. This positive move paid off with the 81st minute winner.
Sinclair’s 81st minute winner on his first appearance for the club came about after a Hearts corner was cleared by Toure. 13 seconds later he met Griffiths’ cross perfectly to slide the ball in.
Celtic By Numbers was not doing match reviews and Bhoy Of the Match then, but if I had:
