Celtic put in a fighting and strength-sapping performance last night (Thursday) in delivering a comeback 2-1 victory over Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League. However, now the attention turns to the weekend and Sunday’s visit to Tynecastle to take on table-topping Hearts. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, though, and, especially after the defeat at Dundee last weekend, Brendan Rodgers and his players will keep their feet on the ground and focus on the job in the capital in a few days’ time against Derek McInnes’ side. The Irishman said after the Euro win: “We’re not good enough to get carried away, that’s the reality. We’ve put in a really, really good performance tonight – we needed to after the weekend. “But what pleases me is how the players have dealt with that pressure, and we talked about bringing that into the game. ‘So we certainly can’t get carried away, but it’s really pleasing how well we have played, and to show that level, and now we have to bring that as often as we can.’ “Derek and his team have started very, very well in terms of getting the points on the board, being consistent and, like I say, it’s a tough place to go, but tonight gives us a real, real confidence going into the game. “And if we can show that level of energy and intent in the game, then we can obviously go there and win. “When you go to Tynecastle it doesn’t matter what time of the year or what form you’re in, it’s always a tough game, but tonight we showed a really, really good level. “We just aim for that consistency now and it all now in the mentality.”The Hoops have had many tough trips to Tynecastle, but they aren’t normally visiting the home of the table-toppers at the same time. That will be the case this Sunday though, and Brendan Rodgers says the Edinburgh side are there on merit. The manager said: “They’ve got a really good manager who knows what he wants from his teams, he knows it’s a big club, so he knows they’ve got good players and obviously they’ve made a really, really good start. “It’s still very, very early and I would expect us to get better as we move along. We’ve been so inconsistent. “And, like I said, our goals and all that side of it hasn’t been where we want, but you can see tonight if we can reach these levels against good sides then we will only get better. “But for Hearts, they’ve made a really, really good start and deserve to be where they are. They’ve got the points on the board and I think they’ll be looking to challenge right the way through the season.” More on the game Training Gallery: Hearts v Celtic Follow the build-up and all the Hearts match action live on the official Celtic FC Match Centre. Celtic FC Quiz: Hearts v Celtic FixturesHeart of Midlothian Vs. Celtic – Sun, Oct 26th 2025, 12:00
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