On 16 April 1960, Hearts claimed the single point at St Mirren that was sufficient to secure a second Scottish title in three years. There have been flickers of hope during the intervening spell – most notably in 1965 and 1986 – but seldom has optimism surged through Tynecastle Park in this manner.
The Hearts class of 2025 now lead Celtic by eight points and 11 goals. They will return to St Mirren on Wednesday night with the supposedly impossible dream edging ever closer to becoming a true reality. People assert Hearts will not and cannot be champions or even contenders, because of what record books show. Hard evidence on the football field suggests another narrative entirely.
This story is multifaceted, hence it is so intriguing. The Brighton owner, Tony Bloom, took his place in the directors’ box for this victory against Celtic, leaping with joy as all three Hearts goals struck the net. Bloom’s investment, born out of the belief that his preferred recruitment tool will prevail, has caught the imagination of everyone who has been bored by an Old Firm title duopoly dating back four decades.
The singing of Bloom’s name is funny in a way – so many others behind the scenes have played a part in this success story – but perfectly captures the mood. Hearts are a fine team, presided over by a manager in Derek McInnes who looks an ideal fit. His career is being rejuvenated as Hearts march on.
There is also undeniable weakness within Glasgow’s big two. This is no particular shock as regards Rangers – who have continually flattered to deceive domestically – but Celtic’s decline is quite something. A team that went toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich in the knockout phase of the Champions League last season are now grasping at air in the Scottish Premiership.
“At 3-1, I never really felt under too much threat,” McInnes said. He did not mean it this way but this constituted quite the insult from McInnes towards the visitors. It was also wholly accurate.
Celtic have injuries and a manager, Brendan Rodgers, who insists his work ethic is stronger than ever but there is a black cloud hovering above the champions that will not shift easily. This is a side who have dropped 10 points within just nine league games. It is frankly impossible to foresee them going on a winning run of a dozen matches. Hearts’ return is 25 points out of 27.
This aligning of stars means Hearts may never have a better chance to make history. Quite understandably, McInnes plays down that scenario yet people inside this famous old ground quite clearly believe. The Hearts support seemed almost surprised by the blissful simplicity of victory here.
Hearts hit the front, were hauled back to parity and then revelled in three second‑half minutes that placed Celtic in an impossible position. It is six months since the Edinburgh club lost a match. “We shall not be moved”? It is hardly a fanciful cry.
Dane Murray, drafted into the Celtic central defence after the injury sustained by Cameron Carter-Vickers, panicked as Lawrence Shankland fired the ball across goal to hand Hearts the lead. Murray’s attempt at a clearance instead found the back of his own net.
Celtic responded impressively if briefly. Callum McGregor, their standout player, picked up Kieran Tierney’s cutback to level the scores. Later, McGregor was almost shaking with rage when trying to articulate his team’s recurring shortcomings.
Danny Röhl's first home game as Rangers head coach was a step in the right direction with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox. The centre-back Derek Cornelius scored his first Gers goal with a header in the 15th minute, only for Killie's George Stanger to level – seven minutes before the break – after a mistake by the home goalkeeper Jack Butland from a corner.
The Rangers striker Bojan Miovski had the ball in the opposition net but was ruled offside. But Danilo's header five minutes after the restart counted as did the drive in the 72nd minute from the substitute Youssef Chermiti, who notched his first Gers goal since his move from Everton in the summer for a reported fee of £8.5m.
Thibault Klidje and Elie Youan were on target as high-flying Hibernian held on to claim a 2-1 victory at Aberdeen. Hibs maintained their strong league form and managed to clinch maximum points for the second-successive match, despite Marko Lazetic reducing the deficit in injury time for the Dons, for the second week in succession.
On Saturday, Elijah Just scored his first Motherwell goal to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory at Livingston. The midfielder, a summer signing from Horsens, fired home in stoppage time just moments after having a goal disallowed for offside.
Livingston had gone ahead in the first half through Jeremy Bokila’s penalty before Apostolos Stamatelopoulos levelled from the spot after the break.
Dundee United came from behind to beat 10-man St Mirren 3-1 after a dramatic ending at Tannadice. Dan Nlundulu’s first goal for the club gave the Saints an 18th-minute lead but Zac Sapsford’s free-kick made it 1-1 before half-time. The Terrors took an 84th-minute lead with Amar Fatah netting a controversial penalty that led to Alex Gogic being sent off before Craig Sibbald put the game beyond doubt late on.
Connor Allan scored a sublime late winner as Falkirk came from behind to beat Dundee 2-1 at the Falkirk Stadium. The centre-back, who was only in the side after an injury to Lewis Neilson, won the ball in the Dundee half and coolly jinked past a couple of challenges before slotting the ball past Jon McCracken to seal victory in the 89th minute. The Dundee defender Clark Robertson had earlier scored at both ends. PA Media
They were exposed by Alexandros Kyziridis, a left winger who specialises in cutting infield and on to his right foot. What did Celtic let him do? By way of thanks, Kyziridis lashed a low shot beyond the motionless Kasper Schmeichel.
Hearts were soon to reach an untouchable place. Claudio Braga drew a foul from Murray, leaving Shankland to convert the resultant penalty. Hearts’ record signing, the Brazilian midfielder Ageu, should have notched a fourth but was wasteful. Celtic had flurries in front of goal without ever looking convincing.
If these players in green and white lack belief in themselves, it seems futile for anybody else to predict confidently that Hearts will be chased down. Rodgers is searching desperately for solutions that are far from obvious. Welcome to a wacky, long overdue Scottish title drama.
