Andy Halliday reckons Hearts were caught off-guard by a clever change in Celtic's game plan ahead of the March Scottish Cup showdown at Tynecastle.
Hearts faced the champions twice in three days back in March and gave them a fright at Celtic Park, going ahead through Josh Ginnelly before Ange Postecoglou's team came back to win 3-1. It was a far more even game than the cup tie at Tynecastle just a few days later as Aaron Mooy and Kyogo had them in charge by half-time before Cameron Carter-Vickers sealed it late on.
Former Rangers star Halliday played in both games and saw a different Celtic at Tynecastle. He reckons they learned from their fright in the first game and went more direct in Gorgie, something Hearts weren't ready for.
He told Open Goal: "Celtic are definitely more adaptable this year. They can be a bit more direct and it's not banging it long, it's a pass in behind and people running in behind.
"The last game at Tynecastle where they won 3-0 in the cup, it was so evident, they did that all the time. I think it came from when we played them at Celtic Park three days before where they tried to play to feet quite a lot and we latched on and nicked it a few times.
"Three days later, obviously more threats in behind and caught us off guard. Because at that time, they they didn't really do that, so you're thinking you can latch on because they're going to try and play all the time."
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