Leaders Hearts twice came from behind to earn a share of the points against Celtic in a thrilling top-of-the-table tussle.
Seeking a first Scottish top-flight title since 1960, Derek McInnes’s side were forced to fight back to snatch a dramatic draw in a game short of quality but high on action. Celtic looked set to earn three points after Yang Hyun Jun had put them back in front in the second half, but Auston Trusty’s sending off brought Hearts back into it, allowing Claudio Braga to rifle home a leveller late on.
It meant the days big winners were Rangers, who closed the gap to the league leaders to just four points after beating Dundee, with Celtic two points further back. The visitors had gone in front through a fine free kick from Benjamin Nygren, only for Stuart Findlay to head home the first equaliser just after half time.
Follow all of the latest from the Scottish Premiership clash with our live blog below:
Hearts vs Celtic live
- Hearts and Celtic share spoils in top of the table tussle
- The hosts twice came from behind to snatch a draw
- GOAL! Hearts 0-1 CELTIC (Benjamin Nygren, 7 minutes)
- GOAL! HEARTS 1-1 Celtic, 48 minutes (Stuart Findlay)
- GOAL! Hearts 1-2 CELTIC (Yang Hyun Jun, 62 minutes)
- GOAL! HEARTS 2-2 Celtic (Claudio Braga, 87 minutes)
- FT: Hearts 2-2 Celtic
The real winners of Hearts and Celtic’s chaotic draw as Scottish title tussle takes a twist
17:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleClaudio Braga scored a late equaliser as Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts drew 2-2 at home to 10-man Celtic to maintain their six-point advantage over the champions.
In a match the Hoops could not afford to lose, they led twice through goals from Benjamin Nygren and Yang Hyun Jun.
But they were pegged back by a Stuart Findlay header and then Braga's strike, which came after Celtic defender Auston Trusty was sent off in the 77th minute.
The real winners of Hearts and Celtic’s chaotic draw as title tussle takes a twist
FT: Hearts 2-2 Celtic
17:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleHearts are still in a position of relative strength, though, and showed all sorts of character to twice fight back today, particularly in the absence of captain Lawrence Shankland. Cammy Devlin and he will remain out for a while, though.
FT: Hearts 2-2 Celtic
17:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhew. Plenty of action, if not necessarily extreme quality, in a top of the table clash that ends with honours even. The day’s big winners are Rangers - their win over Dundee moves them ahead of their Old Firm rivals and just four points back from Hearts.
FULL TIME: Hearts 2-2 Celtic
16:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 9 minutes
16:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleOne last chance for Celtic. Arne Engels delivers a free kick from deep towards Liam Scales, but the defender can’t get much on it.
That’ll be that!
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 8 minutes
16:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleScythed over the crossbar! Blair Spittal picks the ball up 20 yards out and strikes it firmly, singeing the fingertips of Kasper Schmeichel. Or not, in fact - no touch from the goalkeeper, who earns himself a yellow card by dallying over the restart.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 8 minutes
16:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleScythed over the crossbar! Blair Spittal picks the ball up 20 yards out and strikes it firmly, singeing the fingertips of Kasper Schmeichel. Or not, in fact - no touch from the goalkeeper, who earns himself a yellow card by dallying over the restart.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 7 minutes
16:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleA soft free kick and a shake of the head from Sebasstian Tounekti, perhaps harshly given a yellow card, too. Hearts will get a chance to load the box.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 6 minutes
16:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleWilson’s fresh legs test the sprinting stride of Dane Murray, but the Celtic centre back is up to the challenge. He shepherds the ball out of play.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 4 minutes
16:51 , Harry Latham-CoyleStrong defending from Liam Scales, a muscular but legal shove on Landry Kabore to earn a throw in.
Kabore is replaced by young James Wilson for the final minutes.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 + 2 minutes
16:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleCeltic’s 10 men have done a decent job since conceding the equaliser, but there’s a long while yet before the full-time whistle blows. Martin O’Neill looks slightly anxious.
Dane Murray makes a hash of a clearance, and is therefore welcome to see the offside flag raised on the far side.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 90 minutes
16:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleEIGHT added minutes.
Hearts 2-2 Celtic, 89 minutes
16:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleA bit of pushing and shoving leads to three more yellow cards being doled out by the referee. Stuart Findlay, Arne Engels and Callum McGregor the names scribbled down by Steven McLean, who hopefully sharpened his pencil.
GOAL! HEARTS 2-2 Celtic (Claudio Braga, 87 minutes)
16:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo they can’t! Claudio Braga equalises!
It’s a deep cross again that Celtic fail to deal with, Oisin McEntee heading back across goal. Braga pulls back just short of the six-yard box and lashes it past Kasper Schmeichel. Hearts are back level - and have time yet to turn one point into three...
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 87 minutes
16:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleCeltic concede another free kick in a dangerous area. They can’t afford to keep giving away these sort of chances, surely?
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 86 minutes
16:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleBlair Spittal is the next throw of the dice from Derek McInnes as Hearts seek an equaliser.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 84 minutes
16:41 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhat a stop! Remarkable reflexes from Kasper Schmeichel as the ball springs free from a bundle in the box seemingly bound for the back of the net - only for the goalkeeper to get a right hand on it. Claudio Braga thought he’d scored, understandably.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 83 minutes
16:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleHearts will relish every opportunity to load the box. Marc Leonard delivers from deep after a free kick near halfway but the hosts can’t make much of it.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 82 minutes
16:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleA foul by Oisin McEntee earns the Hearts substitute a yellow card, and Celtic a free kick in the home half. Dane Murray gets to it but can’t control, skewing it out for a goal kick off his shin.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 81 minutes
16:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleSteven McLean has a word with Kasper Schmeichel as the goalkeeper takes a slow Sunday stroll over to the left to take a free kick. Remember, that VAR review means this game will go well past 90 minutes - plenty of time yet for Hearts to turn it around.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 79 minutes
16:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis will be a real test of Celtic’s nous. They’ll take their time whenever they can. Julian Araujo goes into the book before taking a throw in.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 78 minutes
16:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleMartin O’Neill introduces Anthony Ralston to shore up the backline. Yang Hyun Jun, as things stand the match winner, replaced. Can Celtic hold out?
RED CARD! Auston Trusty is sent off! Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 76 minutes
16:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleOverturned - it’s RED for Auston Trusty! A fair enough call, with the footage only showing just how little cover there was with Kabore clear of the Celtic defender.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 75 minutes
16:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleSteven McLean is being sent to the monitor. It could go either way...
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 74 minutes
16:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleHauled down as last man - but only a booking! Pierre Landy Kabore powers beyond the Celtic defence on to a through ball and is dragged down by Auston Trusty, and referee Steven McLean is swiftly to his pocket to brandish the yellow card. The VAR John Beaton will have a look - the ball was curling away from goal, which may save him...
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 73 minutes
16:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleTierney’s race is run. A slow trudge alongside a medic off the pitch. Dane Murray on at centre half with Liam Scales out to left-back.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 71 minutes
16:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleJamie McCart and Tomas Magnusson are withdrawn by Hearts, who introduce Sabah Kerjota and Oisin McEntee as Derek McInnes goes to his bench.
Celtic, meanwhile, have a concern over Kieran Tierney, who goes down in need of treatment.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 69 minutes
16:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleHarry Milne’s delivery is relatively poor. It’s headed as far as Marc Leonard, who thuds a half-volley into the chest of a blocking Celtic player.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 68 minutes
16:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleStrong play from Pierre Landry Kabore, holding off two would-be tacklers and then drawing a foul from the third.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 66 minutes
16:23 , Harry Latham-CoylePerhaps recognising the risk of a red, Martin O’Neill removes Tomas Cvancara, who applauds the travelling fans as he departs. Sebastian Tounekti is sent on; Daizen Maeda will move centrally, you’d think.
Hearts 1-2 Celtic, 64 minutes
16:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleTomas Cvancara is almost immediately booked for a bad challenge. The VAR has a quick look and concludes a yellow card is the right call.
It’s all getting a bit heated, actually. Hearts midfielder Tomas Bent Magnusson is next to be called over for a chat after being shown yellow by the referee.
GOAL! Hearts 1-2 CELTIC (Yang Hyun Jun, 62 minutes)
16:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleCeltic are back in front! Yang Hyun Jun taps home!
It’s brilliant from the new signing Tomas Cvancara. For once, Celtic find full fluency playing out from the back. Cvancara knocks out to Daizen Maeda, who returns to the striker somewhat fortuitously with a heavy tough.
The Czech powers on, though, using his long legs to stride to the byline. A square pass finds Yang all alone, and he can’t miss.
Hearts 1-1 Celtic, 61 minutes
16:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s less good. Julian Araujo knocks the ball beyond Alexandros Kyziridis and sets off in pursuit but soon gives up to trot back to his right-back position. Much too much on it, and out of play it scurries.
Hearts 1-1 Celtic, 59 minutes
16:17 , Harry Latham-CoyleOff the post! Nearly a debut goal for the seldom sighted Tomas Cvancara after a neatly-worked move. The cross to him is awkward but Cvancara contorts his neck to head it, and a looping effort bounces back off the angle of the goal. Much more like it from the visitors.
Hearts 1-1 Celtic, 56 minutes
16:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis sort of game is very much suiting Hearts. They are getting the ball forward quickly and working hard to pick up the second balls, and generally doing so.
At Ibrox, James Tavernier has struck from the spot to put Rangers 1-0 ahead against Dundee. They wouldn’t mind things remaining as they are here.
Hearts 1-1 Celtic, 54 minutes
16:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleA goal-saving challenge from Liam Scales! How has he got back in there?
Wow, it’s another huge chance passed up by Alexandros Kyziridis. Denied by Kasper Schmeichel earlier, the forward waits and waits as a ball comes to him all alone by the penalty spot with goal agape but a delay in his attempt to strike it allows Scales to stick a leg in. It should have been 2-1!
Hearts 1-1 Celtic, 51 minutes
16:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleMartin O’Neill wears a furious face on the touchline. His side have just lost all composure in this contest in the last 20 minutes or so.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke is among those watching on.
Hearts 1-1 Celtic, 50 minutes
16:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s the 13th time that Hearts have struck from a corner in the Scottish Premiership this season - they really do pose such a threat.
GOAL! HEARTS 1-1 Celtic, 48 minutes (Stuart Findlay)
16:05 , Harry Latham-CoylePowered home at the far post! Hearts are level!
And you cannot say it isn’t deserved. A deep corner floats too high for Kasper Schmeichel to chance coming to claim, bending beautifully onto the head of Stuart Findlay. A thunderous downward header squares affairs.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 47 minutes
16:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe free kick is never delivered but Tomas Cvancara concedes a corner. Hearts’ first of the match.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 46 minutes
16:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrikey, Celtic have made some baffling errors today. Daizen Maeda tries to switch play completely blindly 35 yards from his own goal, giving the ball away. A teammate soon concedes a free kick.
Second half...
16:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleRight, the players are back out there. Can either side find fluency or take a bit more control of the contest?
Back underway.
HT: Hearts 0-1 Celtic
15:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt remains goalless between Rangers and Dundee at Ibrox, which would leave things like so as things stand:
1 Hearts 50 points
2 Celtic 47 points
3 Rangers 44 points
Have another look at this from Benjamin Nygren, Celtic fans 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Az7hPECYpO
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 25, 2026
HT: Hearts 0-1 Celtic
15:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleA fun, if entirely chaotic, half, that. Benjamin Nygren has produced the one moment of top quality, bending in a free kick from 20 yards, and that’s what separates the title rivals thus far — but Hearts have responded well and should probably have equalised through Alexandros Kyziridis after an Auston Trusty error.
Plenty to suggest that there may be more drama to come.
HALF TIME: Hearts 0-1 Celtic
15:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 45 minutes
15:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleInto a minimum of one additional minute at the end of the half.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 42 minutes
15:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe frenzied pace to this match must surely take a toll at some point. A lot of the game has been played in the middle third of the pitch but both sides have carried real energy.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 39 minutes
15:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat sort of moment has been characteristic of Celtic’s season - although generally not when Martin O’Neill has been in charge. They just seem to have lost all their composure as half time nears, which Hearts will be keen to capitalise upon.
The home fans lift the volume after an energetic press earns a throw-in deep in the Celtic half.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 37 minutes
15:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleAuston Trusty got himself in a right tangle there, entirely unnecessarily with limited pressure on. Still, though, Celtic remain ahead thanks to that Benjamin Nygren free kick.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 36 minutes
15:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn awful error from Auston Trusty but Kasper Schmeichel bails him out! A horror moment for the Celtic defender, a wretched backpass right into Alexandros Kyziridis’s path. The striker goes low, but strikes the jutting leg of the Celtic goalkeeper. A top save, in the end.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 34 minutes
15:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother hoist into the Celtic box causes a few issues, with Kasper Schmeichel forced into a comfortable save from a looping Harry Milne header.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 32 minutes
15:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s the same routine to a looping Tomas Bent Magnusson at the far stick, and the tall midfielder this time heads back into the mixer. Celtic scramble it away.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 31 minutes
15:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleA bright Hearts attack ends with a poor pass from Claudio Braga, cutting back blindly to where he thinks a teammate will be and finding that there is no-one in the vicinity,
Celtic’s Yang Hyun Jun concedes a free kick soon after, though. Forward come the big blokes to contest it.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 30 minutes
15:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleHearts have just managed to disrupt Celtic’s early rhythm as we hit the half-hour mark.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 28 minutes
15:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleAn...interesting decision to shoot from Daizen Maeda, some 35 yards from goal and wide on the left. An ambitious effort? Probably too kind. Silly, really.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 26 minutes
15:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleHarry Milne bends in a deep free kick that Tomas Bent Magnusson attacks from afar. His downward header hops up comfortably for Kasper Schmeichel.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 24 minutes
15:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleA good energy to this game, as one would expect given the stakes. It’s a pretty miserable day in Edinburgh.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 23 minutes
15:24 , Harry Latham-CoylePierre Landry Kabore tests the integrity of the Tynecastle surface, rolling around after a bash of lower limbs with Auston Trusty. Kabore had collected a knockdown and fired vaguely goalwards, but any faint appeals for a penalty are waved away.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 22 minutes
15:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe home fans needn’t have worried. It’s a poor corner from Arne Engels that fails to beat the first man, who is shoved in the back by Liam Scales in frustration after heading clear. Free kick.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 21 minutes
15:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleA soft concession of a corner from Hearts as an aimless Auston Trusty long ball is headed behind unncessarily.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 20 minutes
15:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s still goalless at Ibrox, meanwhile, with Rangers the third protagonist in this title tussle but unable to break down Dundee so far.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 17 minutes
15:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleMarc Leonard’s Hearts debut has been a little difficult so far. The midfielder looks to spray something upfield towards Claudio Braga, but is very, very wayward.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill will be happy enough with this first period.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 14 minutes
15:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleCeltic are pressing really high here, a contrast to the Hearts approach, with the hosts happy to sit off. Claudio Braga and Pierre Landry Kabore may fancy their chances of breaking in behind, though.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 11 minutes
15:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s better from Braga, holding off Liam Scales after spinning into space and getting a shot away. Kasper Schmeichel gets down sharply to his right to save.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 10 minutes
15:11 , Harry Latham-CoyleHearts just need to settle in a bit. Derek McInnes was not best pleased about something after that goal went in, and Claudio Braga just hurled some abuse at the officials after a throw-in that appeared to be given the right way.
Hearts 0-1 Celtic, 9 minutes
15:09 , Harry Latham-CoyleA lovely goal, that. That feels crucial, too, for Martin O’Neill’s side, quietening the home crowd and puncturing an injury-hit Hearts.
GOAL! Hearts 0-1 CELTIC (Benjamin Nygren, 7 minutes)
15:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleWould you believe it? Pinpoint perfect from Benjamin Nygren and Celtic are ahead!
It’s a stunner. There’s not much distance to work with, all of 20 yards, but Nygren manages to get it up and over the wall with requisite curl to bend by Craig Gordon’s flail and into the top corner.
Hearts 0-0 Celtic, 6 minutes
15:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleA bit of pressure on from Celtic. Benjamin Nygren breaks from midfield and is tugged back by Marc Leonard, who is rather fortunate not to be cautioned.
Still, a free kick in a gorgeous position - although Celtic having scored directly in the Scottish Premiership from one of these in their last 86 attempts, dating back to early 2021. Now would be a good time...
Hearts 0-0 Celtic, 5 minutes
15:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleGreat chance! Kieran Tierney’s left-footed inswinger bends on to the head of Liam Scales, off balance slightly as he grapples with two markers. The connection is clean enough, but too close to Craig Gordon, who clutches at shoulder height to his right.
Hearts 0-0 Celtic, 4 minutes
15:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleJulian Araujo comes forward from right-back, overlapping down to the byline. He draws a corner from the legs of Jamie McCart.
Hearts 0-0 Celtic, 3 minutes
15:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleTynecastle is jumping, as you’d expect. On the touchlines, Martin O’Neill is animated, too, sending out some early instructions to the visiting side.
Hearts 0-0 Celtic, 2 minutes
15:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleA scrappy opening, with neither side able to settle into possession.
Hearts are first to come forward, but Alexandros Kyrziridis is dispossessed. He keeps fighting and blocks a clearance, but it travels out of play for a goal kick.
KICK OFF!
15:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe title tussle is underway!
Hearts vs Celtic
14:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe players will soon be out at Tynecastle. Cammy Devlin already is - the midfielder cuts a downcast figure as he hops over to the bench on crutches. How big a miss will he be?
Hearts vs Celtic
14:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt is, of course, Burns Night this evening - I’ve a haggis stashed somewhere, ready for consumption. Let us hope this proves just as tasty fare; auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware, after all.
Craig Gordon in goal
14:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleDerek McInnes prefers Craig Gordon to Alexander Schwolow, with the 43-year-old taking on his former club. Perhaps his leadership will be valuable in the absence of Shankland and co.
Injury-hit Hearts require reinforcements
14:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleBoth captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin appear set for spells on the sidelines at Hearts, making the loan arrival of Marc Leonard timely. Like Cvancara, he starts this afternoon on debut - the Glaswegian came through the academy at Rangers, so may well rather relish the opposition today.
Beni Baningime is suspended, too.
Tomas Cvancara thrown straight in
14:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleTomas Cvancara only arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach on Thursday, but the new Celtic loan signing is utilised immediately by Martin O’Neill. The 25-year-old had been short of goals during a stint with Antalyaspor in Turkey during the first half of the season but should add something different to O’Neill’s existing options.
“I wouldn't want to put too much pressure on him - he's not just going to be the panacea for all our ills and woes,” O’Neill said. "Just let him get settled in, I think he'll make an impact, I hope he does.
"But, again, I just wouldn't want to be putting extreme pressure on him to solve all our problems.
"He's making the commitment, he wants to play well, he obviously wants to do well with us and maybe as a consequence he gets himself back into the Czech Republic team."
Martin O'Neill praises Hearts' season
14:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleMartin O'Neill paid tribute to Hearts as he admitted he wishes his Celtic team could switch places with them.
The Jambos are six points clear of both the Hoops and Rangers as they bid to end a 40-year Old Firm duopoly of the Scottish title.
Hearts host Celtic on Sunday in the biggest game of the William Hill Premiership campaign so far, and O'Neill acknowledged that Derek McInnes' team have been "terrific".
"It's really been brilliant," said the manager. "It's a really great, great season for them.
"I was nearly going to say they've taken advantage of Celtic and Rangers' slip-ups, but that's not the case. They've driven on themselves. They've done it, and it's genuinely great credit to them."
Asked who he viewed as favourites in the three-way title fight, O'Neill replied: "Well, let me put it this way, I wish we were going into this game six points in front."
Team news - Celtic
14:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleTomas Cvancara is given a debut in the front three for Celtic, with Reo Hatate is only on the bench for Celtic after his midweek sending off.
Celtic XI: Schmeichel; Araujo, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Yang, Maeda, Cvancara.
📋 The #CelticFC side for today’s trip to Tynecastle#HEACEL pic.twitter.com/QkwArrGhND
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 25, 2026
Team news - Hearts
14:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleMarc Leonard is thrown into the Hearts midfield shortly after arriving on loan from Birmingham, with the versatile Harry Milne perhaps used further forward.
Hearts XI: Gordon; Halkett, Findlay, Steinwender, McCart; Magnusson, Leonard; Milne, Kyziridis, Braga, Kabore.
📋 TEAM NEWS
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) January 25, 2026
Today's XI to take on Celtic at Tynecastle Park 🇱🇻 pic.twitter.com/6xLdc8foBA
Derek McInnes says Hearts focussed on themselves ahead of keyc lash
13:50 , Press AssociationDerek McInnes is focused only on what a Hearts win over Celtic would do for his own side’s title aspirations and not what damage it might do to the defending champions.
The Jambos have the chance to move nine points clear of the Hoops if they win today’s top-of-the-table showdown at Tynecastle.
While such a scenario would seemingly leave Celtic’s hopes of retaining the William Hill Premiership crown hanging by a thread, McInnes said: “We’re just concentrating on ourselves.
“If we can win the game, it would be significant for us because it’s a great reference point for us if we can go and beat Celtic again.
“Celtic have been the team to beat over the last wee while, and they’re still littered with good players, so any time you can beat a Celtic team, you take good confidence from it, and I think that’s exactly what we would do.
“There are still loads of points available, we’ve got a rough idea of what we think we need to get to, and hopefully we can start that off with another win on Sunday.”
Martin O'Neill admits it may be win or bust for Celtic
13:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleMartin O'Neill admitted Celtic cannot afford to lose today’s top-of-the-table showdown with Hearts at Tynecastle.
The Jambos are currently six points clear of both the Hoops and Rangers in the race to win the William Hill Premiership.
Defeat in Edinburgh would leave O'Neill's side facing a nine-point deficit in their quest to retain their title.
"It's going to be very big, no question about it," the Northern Irishman said on Friday. "If we get beaten, it's a long way back for us. It is a bit of a trek at the minute, so we would go out to try and win the game if we can.
"It's not the end of the road (if Hearts win) but nine points would be a lot to claw back with 15 games left."
Celtic's midweek action
13:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleCeltic were in midweek action against Bologna, with Martin O’Neill hailing his team’s “colossal spirit” after they earned a 2-2 draw in Italy despite losing Reo Hatate to a first-half red card.
Hatate opened the scoring inside six minutes after a goalkeeping error but picked up two yellow cards in three minutes, firstly for a foul on Lewis Ferguson before a needless flick of the boot while chasing the ball with an opponent.
However, the impressive Auston Trusty netted after a 40th-minute corner to double the 10 men’s lead after making a string of blocks in the other penalty box.
Bologna fought back to level amid some relentless second-half pressure but Celtic also had some chances to win the game before leaving Italy with a point that sets them up well for their final Europa League game.
Martin O’Neill hails ‘colossal’ team spirit as 10-man Celtic draw in Bologna
Hearts hope for history
13:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo Hearts team has ever beaten Celtic three times in a single Scottish Premiership campaign, a feat within reach for Derek McInnes’s men. Other than Rangers, Aberdeen were the last team to knock off the perennial heavyweights thrice in a season way back in 1990.
Hearts vs Celtic - the state of play
13:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt’s a big day in the title fight, with the top three all in action. Hearts are six points clear of both Celtic and Rangers, who play Dundee this afternoon, entering the 23rd round of fixtures and will hope to extend their advantage over their opponents at the very least.
Hearts vs Celtic live
11:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleWell this could be very tasty indeed. The Scottish Premiership’s top two collide in a crunch clash that could determine the destination of the title, with Hearts looking to widen the gap to Celtic to nine points.
Kick off at Tynecastle Park is at 3pm GMT.
