After suffering a 4-2 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox eight days ago, questions were going to be asked of Hearts at the weekend. Derek McInnes’ men in action at home to Falkirk, action that took place 24 hours before both their Glasgow-based rivals were respectively in Scottish Premiership action.
Scheduling that gave league leaders Hearts the ideal opportunity to add further pressure on the shoulders of both Rangers and Celtic and although Tynecastle was a rather tense environment on Saturday, that tension was eased on the stroke of half time.
Islam Chesnokov finding an ideal time to score his first of the season, the Jam Tarts going into the interval one goal better off and with a resolute second half performance to follow, maximum points were subsequently collected.
Grinding it out
Victory that by the end of Saturday’s action gave Hearts a five-point gap over Rangers. Danny Rohl’s men preparing for a trip to basement outfit Livingston the following day, Celtic a further point back hosting Hibs that same afternoon.
The Hoops six points behind but with a potential ace up their sleeve – an ace that comes in the form of a game in hand. Martin O’Neill’s side battered and bruised after their 4-1 Europa League defeat to Stuttgart on Thursday, how would they answer the volley of criticism that came their way?
Their answer was to generate further criticism after succumbing to Hibs at Celtic Park. The Edinburgh outfit struck first through Felix Passlack on 24 minutes but his header would be cancelled out by Benjamin Nygren nodding home a first half effort of his own.
That was as good as it got for the defending champions. Auston Trusty being sent off in the second half after a VAR check. Things going from bad to worse when Kai Andrews slammed a home late winner for the visitors.
A hugely damaging defeat and even more so when you consider Rangers had to settle for damage limitation at Livingston. The blue half of Glasgow stunned with Marvin Bartram’s side racing into a 2-0 lead.
A slow start
Goals from Brooklyn Kabongolo and Lewis Smith putting the relegation threatened outfit in the ascendency, the mood then tempered by Cristian Montano's red card on the hour. Livi down to 10 men, Rangers smelling blood.
A smell that got stronger by the time Emmanuel Fernandez halved the deficit with 10 minutes remaining. The visitors then throwing the kitchen sink until the finish and with Mikey Moore scoring with 120 seconds left on the clock, Livingston’s lead in the game was down the drain.
Still time for plenty more drama as Tottenham loanee Moore felt he should have won a penalty. A lengthy VAR review deemed otherwise. Hearts fans watching from a distance breathed a collective sigh of relief.
While they were puffing out their chest by the time the final whistles blew at both Celtic Park and the Home of the Set Fare Arena. Dropped points in both Glasgow camps, Hearts now four clear and an Old Firm derby next weekend means at least one title rival will be further hampered.
