Old Hearts, new pressure in title-race derby
Celtic and Heart Of Midlothian meet on Sunday level on points at the top of the cinch Premiership, with both carrying ten-game unbeaten league runs into a rivalry sharpened by December’s meeting.
A December equaliser had barely settled before Heart Of Midlothian struck twice in the closing minutes, leaving Celtic to watch the derby turn away from them. On Sunday, the sides meet again with the same prize in view and no points between them: Celtic are first on 64 points from 29 games; Hearts second on 64 from 30.
Both have gone ten league matches without defeat, but the recent shape is different. A victory would give either side a crucial advantage in a race where every dropped point will be felt.
The meeting on 26 December was a late lesson in how quickly this fixture can turn. Jim Findlay scored in the first minute, Robbie Allison equalised for Celtic in the 82nd, then Kodi Forsyth and Robbie Parry scored for Hearts.
Celtic are expected to use a 4-4-2, with Allison on the left and Jaime Docherty on the right. Allison has three goals and an assist in his last five matches; Docherty has been in good form. Hearts are likely to keep their 4-3-3, though right winger Dion Whitelock is injured and expected back about 30 March. Graeme Lynch is a threat from the left, but his recent workload may be a concern: his condition is listed at 53 per cent.
The title race also carries an intriguing statistical contrast. Celtic’s league points are close to their expected total; Hearts have substantially outperformed theirs. That does not decide Sunday’s derby, but it gives the visitors something to defend as well as a lead to chase. The old rivalry has become a direct contest for first place.