Celtic's Olivier Ntcham is chased down by Hearts Don Cowie during their Scottish Premiership soccer match at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. Celticâs record 69-match unbeaten run in Scottish soccer ended with a surprise thrashing on Sunday, when they lost 4-0 to Hearts, for its first defeat in any domestic competition since May 2016.(Ian Rutherford/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) - Celtic's record 69-match unbeaten run in Scottish soccer ended with an unexpected thrashing on Sunday.
The Glasgow club lost 4-0 at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership for its first defeat in any domestic competition since May 11, 2016 - a period of 585 days.
Celtic's previous record unbeaten run was 62 matches, set from 1915-17.
It was the first domestic loss experienced by Brendan Rodgers since taking charge of Celtic in the summer of 2016. In that time, Rodgers has guided the team to the league, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup titles.
"Of course it's a sore one when you are beaten like that," Rodgers said, "but they (Celtic's players) can hold their heads up.
"They have been absolutely amazing over those 18 months."
Celtic is just two points clear of second-place Aberdeen in the league standings, with a game in hand.
Hearts Michael Smith tackles Celtic's Scott Sinclair during their Scottish Premiership soccer match at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. Celticâs record 69-match unbeaten run in Scottish soccer ended with a surprise thrashing on Sunday, when they lost 4-0 to Hearts, for its first defeat in any domestic competition since May 2016.(Ian Rutherford/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Celtic's Olivier Ntcham, left, in action with Hearts Connor Randall and Ross Callaghan, right, during their Scottish Premiership soccer match at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Dec. 17, 2017. Celticâs record 69-match unbeaten run in Scottish soccer ended with a surprise thrashing on Sunday, when they lost 4-0 to Hearts, for its first defeat in any domestic competition since May 2016.(Ian Rutherford/PA via AP)
The Associated Press