FOLLOWING last week's Scottish Premiership defeat at Dundee, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers responded to the performance using a car analogy.
The Co. Antrim native said after the 2-0 defeat that he was in a race in a Honda Civic, being asked to drive it like a Ferrari.
He later clarified that he was referring to the speed of his side rather than the expectations placed upon him or a lack of investment in the squad.
Whatever Rodgers' intentions while bemoaning his current ride, given their wealth, Celtic's Honda Civic should still be careering through a league where a lot of the opposition are second-hand runarounds.
Instead, it is the Hoops being given the runaround, looking like they have not just stalled but are in reverse.
Rodgers upgraded his side to a Range Rover Sport in his post-match interview after the 2-1 win over Sturm Graz, which saw some green shoots of recovery.
However, Hearts — purring under manager Derek McInnes — did laps around the champions at Tynecastle on Sunday in a 3-1 win that moved them eight points clear of second-place Celtic.
In a final car analogy (I promise), the Hoops were forced to put out a couple of learner drivers in the form of Colby Donovan and Dane Murray after injuries to Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston.
Making just his second league appearance for Celtic, Murray scored an own goal and conceded a penalty from which Hearts scored.
Donovan, in his third league outing, almost scored a second own goal after captain Callum McGregor had levelled for the visitors.
Lack of creativity
Rodgers' hand may have been forced but it would be unfair to lay the blame at the feet of the two youngsters thrust into a side underperforming on so many other fronts.
Only Hearts have conceded less than Celtic but six other sides have scored as many or more goals than the Hoops.
The manager lamented the mistakes that led to the goals but also bemoaned the dearth of creativity that stopped them getting back into the game.
"Obviously, we got off to a poor start with the own goal but fought our way back in, scored a really good goal and had the chance to go 2-1 up," he told Celtic TV.
"Sadly for us, in the start to the second half, we gave away two poor goals.
"We've got to move our line quicker up the pitch and we didn't do that but then we were not determined enough to stop the shot coming in.
"That's something that we spoke about before the game; it didn't quite happen for us and we go 2-1 down.
"Then we make another mistake for the penalty so then all of a sudden you're 3-1 down.
"You're needing to show that creativity and that's obviously something we didn't show enough of once we were behind."
Rodgers said his side didn't do the basics right or show enough talent, saying 'probably both sides of that we weren't at our best'.
He added: "[We had] enough endeavour, enough work but to win the game today we needed to be much better and cleaner on the ball."
Early setback
The game started frenetically with Celtic looking to build on their winning performance against Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday, while Hearts were aiming to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Kasper Schmeichel, who has come in for criticism this season for some below-par performances, looked to have spared Celtic's blushes when he acrobatically saved from Claudio Braga.
However, the ball dropped to Lawrence Shankland, who drove it back across the face of goal and with Kyziridis coming in at the far post, Murray was forced to clear the ball.
Unfortunately for the visitors, he drove his effort into his own net to send the home fans into ecstasy after just eight minutes.
Despite the setback, Celtic responded in more determined fashion than we have seen for much of the season so far and were level just four minutes later.
Kieren Tierney, finally looking to have settled following his return to Celtic, pulled the ball back for McGregor to steer beyond Alexander Schwolow to make it 1-1.
Despite dominating play, Celtic almost fell behind to a second own goal after 32 minutes, Murray's clearance from a Kyziridis cross ricocheting off Donovan back across the face of goal, Harry Milne just failing to make contact at the far post to restore his side's lead.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Nygren passed up a glorious opportunity to put Celtic ahead.
A poor goal kick from Schwolow found Reo Hatate who exchanged passes with Sebastian Tounekti before the Tunisian sent a low, teasing cross across the area.
Nygren shaped to shot first time but them dummied Stephen Kingsley before Schwolow clawed away the Swede's delayed effort.
Second-half collapse
Despite Celtic's woes this season, fans would have been hopeful at half-time of coming away with at least point, having shown more determination and endeavour during the opening period than they have done for most of this season.
Sadly, it was the slow, predictable and apprehensive side fans have become accustomed to this term that emerged after the break, with the visitors 2-1 down after just seven minutes of the half.
The ball fell to Kyziridis on the edge of the area and he was allowed time to dance unchallenged along the 18-yard box before picking his spot and drilling beyond Schmeichel.
Less than two minutes later and any realistic hopes of Celtic getting something from the game disappeared when Murray failed to get anything on the ball when tackling Braga, conceding a penalty.
Schmeichel went the right way but couldn't get to Shankland's low effort into the bottom left-hand corner.
Braga and substitute Eduardo Ageu threatened to further embarrass the visitors and underline their title credentials but Schmeichel saved well from both.
A beleaguered Celtic failed to capitalise on a number of set pieces and the confidence that infused the Hoops' performance against Sturm Graz had evaporated here.
Substitute Luke McCowan and Arne Engels did go close late on, the Scot's effort from the edge of the box drifting agonisingly wide on 79 minutes before the Belgian's long-range shot did likewise a minute later.
Falkirk and Rangers tests up next
As poor as Celtic have been, credit must go to Hearts, not just for their win here but for their impressive start to the season.
They have been mooted as title challengers and while it's early days, wins over Celtic and Rangers in a run that has seen them drop just two points from their opening nine league games has underscored their credentials.
It's 40 years since a side other than Celtic or Rangers won the league (Aberdeen in 1984-85) but Hearts' eight-point lead at the top of the table is already looking ominous for the underperforming Glasgow sides.
Rodgers welcomed the chance to get back on track quickly, with a midweek league game against Falkirk coming up on Wednesday.
However, with the fixtures coming thick and fast — a League Cup semi-final against Rangers on Sunday is the first of seven fixtures in November — the manager said his side need to up their game.
"You have to get in and recover physically, mentally," he told Celtic TV.
"The beauty of this period is it's a very quick turnaround.
"We're at home [against Falkirk], we love to play at home but he have to show a greater level than what we did today."
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