After another intriguing round of Scottish Premiership action, leaders Hearts still find themselves with a three-point cushion over Rangers. However, the Ibrox outfit now take on the mantle of nearest challengers thanks to failure elsewhere.
The reason for a switch is due to Celtic’s reverse on Sunday, the pressure on after both Hearts and Rangers won the day before and after the Hoops suffered at the hands of Dundee United, they now sit five points from the top of the league ladder.
A narrow win for Hearts as Oisin McEntee scored a hugely important goal with just 13 minutes remaining. The right back’s finish easing the tension that was enveloping the maroon half of Edinburgh and a goal that was eventually good enough to earn maximum points.
A win for Hearts and then over to Ibrox just a few moments later. Danny Rohl’s men in full control against an Aberdeen outfit being overseen by new manager Stephen Robinson. The former St Mirren boss having to oversee a 4-1 defeat.
Rangers ahead at the interval thanks to a 35th minute strike from Tochi Chukwuani, then going up through the gears in the second half. Mikey Moore doubling the hosts’ advantage just three minutes after the restart.
There was a glimmer of hope for the Dons when Dennis Geiger halved Aberdeen’s deficit just four minutes later but that hope was wiped out when Nicolas Raskin restored Rangers’ two-goal lead just after the hour.
Rangers strolling to victory and an injury time goal from James Tavernier serving as the exclamation mark in a comfortable 4-1 win. The Ibrox outfit moving to second in the table at least temporarily, permanent if local rivals Celtic failed to win the following lunchtime.
Fail Martin O’Neill’s men did and after a rather sheepish first half where neither team could truly land a glove on each other, it was Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United that managed to deliver a painful jab after the restart.
United captain Will Ferry broke the deadlock six minutes after the break, his effort being stabbed home from short range and if that goal was considered a painful jab to the body of Celtic, Emmanuel Agyei’s strike must be considered a knockout blow.
Agyei, a January arrival from Israeli outfit FC Ashdod hit a stunning strike past Viljami Sinisalo in the Celtic goal to put Dundee United two goals clear. Rapture for those in the home seats of Tannadice, disaster for those in the away.
Two goals down on 66 minutes, that is how it would stay on 90. League holders Celtic now sitting third in the table and five points off the pace. Fixtures against the top two still waiting after the league splits in half.
A mini-league that will define who goes on and wins the title. Celtic not out of the race by any stretch but now finding themselves a step back compared to Hearts and Rangers. Pre-split wins against Dundee and St Mirren are a necessity in order to limit Sunday’s damage.
