Hearts bid to be the first non-Glasgow team to win the Scottish Premiership title since 1985 took another huge boost after the perfect combination of results played out over the weekend. Derek McInnes’ men at home to Aberdeen, a win would increase the pressure on Rangers and Celtic.
Tynecastle welcomed the Dons on Saturday and the league leaders were not in the mood for generosity. Claudio Braga’s strike just before the half hour putting the Jam Tarts ahead, his defensively minded teammates making sure that was still the case at the final whistle.
Hearts doing their bit of the equation, a step towards slaying Scottish football’s two giants. Two giants that would face each other the following lunchtime and as Old Firm derbies went, this one certainly lived up to expectations.
Over To You
While the same could be said about Rangers forward Youssef Chermiti. Only recently scoring a treble in the 4-2 home win over Hearts, he would further adorn himself to the Ibrox faithful with a double on Sunday.
His first of the two worthy of winning any game of football – maybe even worthy of winning FIFA’s Puskas award. Andreas Skov Olsen’s hopeful cross into the box was expertly met by Chermiti, nothing hopeful about the former Everton’s player overhead kick.
An effort that fizzed past Viljami Sinisalo, who kept his place in the Celtic goal after playing in Europe less than 72 hours before. First blood to Rangers and with the Hoops on the ropes, the hosts were smelling more soon after.
While it must be noted that Celtic’s defence was borderline hopeless when Rangers doubled their lead. Chermiti once again the hero, a botched clearance from Dane Murray allowed the 21-year-old to pounce and as cooler heads prevailed, Sinisalo was left to pick the ball out of the net once more.
Rangers eating into Hearts’ lead at the top but the interval was as good as it got for Danny Rohl’s men. Whatever counterpart Martin O’Neill said in the Celtic dressing room at half time obviously worked. Then again, this is far from the Northern Irishman’s first Old Firm rodeo.
The Comeback Kings
Celtic bucking their first half woes to then half their deficit. Kieran Tierney’s header 11 minutes after the break changing the mood with Ibrox. The small portion of travelling support now starting to find their voice in search of an equaliser.
A search that had 34 minutes to be completed and once again Celtic used every last one of them. The kings of the late goal once again wearing their crown, Reo Hatate finally earning a share of the points at the third attempt.
A trio of attempts given to Celtic by virtue of a penalty. Rangers defender Dujon Sterling judged by VAR to have handled. Hatate stepping up to square off against Jack Butland from 12 yards. The English keeper winning the first duel with a penalty save, on top with a rebound save as well.
That was the point where Rangers’ luck would run out and Hatate’s luck would finally come in. Bundling the ball over the line to give Celtic parity in the game. The hosts feel like they lost, the visitors feel like they won. Deep down both sides know Sunday’s real winners were Hearts.
