Will Celtic overtake Hearts in final Scottish Premiership push?

Celtic trail Hearts by one point with two matches remaining but have momentum after beating Rangers.

Title race still open Hearts have led the Scottish Premiership since October but sit just one point clear of Celtic with two fixtures left. The championship decider looks set to unfold on the final day when Hearts visit Celtic Park. The Glasgow side remain in contention after Martin O’Neill’s team crushed Rangers 3-1 in the derby to close the gap. Momentum now appears to be shifting toward the Bhoys. ## Lennon backs Celtic surge Former Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon believes his old club now hold the advantage following their Old Firm victory. Since falling to Dundee United in March, O’Neill’s side has reeled off six straight wins across all competitions. Five league triumphs have steadily chipped away at Hearts’ advantage. In front of their own supporters, Celtic have claimed all four home games since Hibs stunned them in February, netting ten times while conceding only three. ## Hearts show resilience but drop points Despite an unbeaten run of six matches, Hearts have needed late heroics to avoid defeat in five of their last fixtures. Three of those comebacks ended in victories, yet Saturday’s setbacks at Livingston and Motherwell gifted Celtic a chance to reduce the deficit. O’Neill’s men face a daunting trip to Fir Park midweek, while Hearts host a Falkirk side with nothing left to play for. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner also senses Celtic’s “nice momentum” heading into the final two games. ## Experts pick Celtic to finish strongly Bonner told a broadcast outlet that Celtic must maintain their intensity, noting “there’s a lot of work still to be done.” He expects both teams to win on Wednesday before a fiery Celtic Park showdown on the final day. Pat Nevin identified three key edges Celtic may hold if the title hinges on a winner-takes-all clash. O’Neill has helped restore harmony between fans and the board after early-season tensions. ## Toxicity banished at Celtic Park Nevin credited O’Neill with healing the disconnect at Celtic Park, describing the atmosphere as an “incredibly hard place to play” when vibrant. Hearts boss Derek McInnes is reportedly concerned about mounting injury issues, including centre-back Craig Halkett and midfielder Marc Leonard suffering serious damage. Forward Claudio Braga has also looked fatigued in recent outings. ## 1986 spectre looms over finale Nevin suggested memories of Albert Kidd’s brace for Dundee in 1986 could weigh heavily ahead of a potential title-deciding finale. Celtic captain Callum McGregor called Sunday’s derby triumph “huge” and insisted “it’s in our hands.” Only a Celtic loss to Motherwell on Wednesday combined with a Hearts win would prevent a final-day showdown. ## O’Neill eyes fourth title Despite the surge, O’Neill remains cautious, admitting “I’ve never been confident” and warning momentum can flip instantly. He labelled the Motherwell trip “really difficult” but believes the current run provides belief to compete. Asked if he might leave after the derby, O’Neill refused to comment, though Lennon reckons a league and cup double could sway his decision. ## January recruits sit out for now Former Hearts and Rangers player Andy Halliday noted that none of Celtic’s January signings feature in the starting XI. Instead, O’Neill has elevated existing talent, with Celtic on a five-game winning streak. Halliday praised their current mentality and timing, while conceding Hearts have been finding ways to win for 30 straight weeks. The post-split fixtures have delivered drama as expected.