Could Sunday February 15th be the most pivotal day of the Scottish Premiership season so far? Depends on which set of supporters you ask. Put that question to the Hearts fanbase and they may be inclined to not answer.
Ask their Rangers and Celtic counterparts the same question and they will likely say yes. A seismic turn of events within the space of a couple of hours. The Glasgow giants each in a position to chase down the Edinburgh upstarts.
Not a position that Martin O’Neill’s Celtic looked like being in when 2-0 down to Kilmarnock. The Rugby Park outfit storming into the interval with a comfortable lead, the kind of lead that almost put paid to the Hoops’ hopes of retaining the title.
Never Say Die
However, just like how we have seen in both Scottish Cup and league action in the past week or so, Celtic simply do not quit. Playing until the final few seconds in a bid to get a goal, a bid that has ultimately proved successful.
An injury time leveller in the cup tie with Dundee before finding an extra-time winner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first goal for Celtic securing three hugely important points on Wednesday night – the drama arguably even greater with Juan Araujo’s 97th minute goal at Kilmarnock.
Killie fans bemoaning where all the added time came from, their Celtic equivalent delirious after an unlikely comeback win and with the outcome at Ibrox later that same Sunday, what at one stage looked like an unlikely title win now looks more credible.
Thanking Their Rivals
Publicly Celtic will not be thanking arch rivals Rangers after their 4-2 win over Hearts, privately there may have to be tip of the hat after Danny Rohl’s side have gatecrashed the title race. You would not have envisaged this even a few months ago, but we have three horses lined up for a sprint finish.
Rangers’ home ground rocking after Youssef Chermiti’s treble on Sunday. The former Everton forwards’ spell has been maligned since his summer switch, his £8m transfer fee not looking as eye-wateringly expensive after that performance.
His cost has been of much debate since his Ibrox arrival, the debate now pivots to how costly defeat could be for Hearts. They still find themselves top of the standings but the gap has shrunk from comfortable to miniscule and the chasing pack has doubled.
Hampered by the absence of talisman Lawrence Shankland, the Jam Tarts will have to do without him for at least another couple of weeks. That is the better end of diagnosis, they may also have to wait until mid-March for his return.
Will the Tynecastle crop still be top by then? That is the question that everyone is asking themselves and with a fourth round of fixtures to also be played by the league’s top three, you get the feeling there is still going to be plenty of ebb and flow until the final day of the season.
This title race has undoubtedly been a huge lift for the image of Scottish football with many neutrals leaning towards a Hearts allegiance these past few months but now it is time to see whether they can hold their nerve and grab hold of the Scottish Premiership crown.
