Hearts boss Derek McInnes is backing the Jambos to pull off a stunning upset against Celtic and make history by winning their first Scottish league crown in 66 years today.
For that to happen, Hearts need to steer clear of defeat in their final-day showdown with second-placed Celtic in Glasgow, with the trophy effectively on the line.
Success would mark the first time a team other than Celtic or Rangers has lifted the Scottish title since Aberdeen achieved the feat in 1984-85.
Celtic’s push remains razor-tight after a contentious penalty in stoppage time helped them claim a 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday, keeping them just one point behind Hearts.
Had Celtic not scored so late, the defending champions would have required a three-goal win over Hearts to retain the championship.
With that in mind, any Celtic victory on the last day—no matter the scoreline—would guarantee the title stays in the east end of Glasgow.
McInnes labelled the penalty call “disgusting” following the Motherwell match, but said he was determined to move on as he focused on what he described as a “box office” finale to a gripping title race.
“It’s a perfect ending to a season for the league, for Scottish football, for drama and excitement… It’s pure box office,” McInnes said ahead of Scotland’s first full final-day league title climax since 1991.
“It’ll be bedlam, it’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere. There might be people out there who think everything’s back on script, ‘Celtic win their home game, they win the league’.
“But we’ve ripped the script up so often this season, and we’ve got one more in us I think, and it’s up to us to try and make that happen.”
Hearts have taken advantage of a chaotic spell in the league that has seen both Celtic and Rangers lead at various stages since September. They have already set a new club benchmark for points by reaching 80, and they finished the campaign unbeaten at home throughout.
Still, Celtic represent the major test for Hearts, with Martin O’Neill’s side chasing a 14th league title in the last 15 years.
