Steven Naismith couldn’t give Celtic the respect of being the best side in the country.
The former Rangers star has been in management since April but looks to be in big trouble with Hearts fans unconvinced by his results which are supposed to be an upgrade on Robbie Neilson.
Missing out on third place to Aberdeen last season cost Hearts the best part of £5m, currently sitting in fourth place with 11 points from nine matches they look as likely to finish in the bottom six as they are to take third spot and guaranteed European group stage football next season.
The next two weekends see Hearts travel to Glasgow to take on Philippe Clement#s side in the SPFL and Viaplay Cup with confidence among players and fans dropping at an alarming rate.
Even with the Celtic support reduced to less than 600 there was little passion from the Hearts players or supporters with Naismith looking close to a broken man as he watched his side picked apart from the sidelines.
🗣️ “All four goals are avoidable from our point of view… I don’t think their penalty is a penalty”
Steven Naismith reacts to Hearts’ 4-1 home loss to Celtic 👇 pic.twitter.com/7whtlV6ZLM
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 22, 2023
When you are playing one of the best teams in the league you have to work from a solid foundation, we didn’t do that, the first goal came after three minutes it was really poor. I think all four goals in today’s game are avoidable from our point of view.
To take anything away from Celtic’s opening goal is extremely petty, something that wee Naisy specialises in.
The through ball from Luis Palma was perfectly weighted, Matt O’Riley’s anticipation was only matched by the quality of his finishing as he directed his shot across Zander Clark into the corner of the net.
The move and finish was of a quality that Naismith won’t see in any other domestic game, it is unlikely that any level of coaching could have prepared his defenders to prevent the goal by fair methods.
Even poor Hearts teams have managed to make things hostile for Celtic at Tynecastle, today’s side seemed afraid to get involved in case their opponents moved up a gear.
There was some joy for the home fans in the 48th minute when Reo Hatate hit the post with his penalty but three minutes later Kyogo Furuhashi did put the visitors 3-0 in front.
That was the signal for thousands of Hearts fans to head for home with the ground half empty for the bulk of the second half.
Lawrence Shankland did score with a consolation but substitute Tomoki Iwata scored Celtic’s fourth to make it 10 wins on the bounce against Hearts since defeat in Ange Postecoglou’s first match in charge.
Naismith has recently been mouthy about ticket allocations, while he remains in charge demand from Hearts fans is falling rapidly, if he wants to know how ruthless the club is a phone call to Neilson should put him right.
🗣️ “Disappointed we didn’t score more… We’ll go away and finalise our plan for Wednesday. The supporters will be there and the team will give everything”
Brendan Rodgers reflects on Celtic’s 4-1 win over Hearts – now he sets his sights on Atletico Madrid midweek 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZQ9Lh9en27
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 22, 2023
