Has last-gasp Celtic penalty undermined Hearts' hopes?

"At one stage on Wednesday, Hearts were set to be Scottish Premiership champions. At another point, they just needed to avoid a three-goal defeat at Celtic Park on Saturday to clinch a first title since 1960. But by the end of a hugely contentious and emotionally wrought night, one which ended with recriminations and angry words, the equation was much less favourable. Hearts players were on the Tynecastle pitch waving to fans after a comfortable 3-0 win over Falkirk as Celtic converted a controversial 99th-minute penalty to beat Motherwell 3-2 at Fir Park, leaving one point separating the top two."

"Now Derek McInnes' side now must avoid defeat in front of 60,000 amped-up Celtic fans on Saturday - and do so without key players - if they are to become the first non-Old Firm club to win the Scottish title in four decades. Hearts are unbeaten against Celtic in three meetings this term, but the revived defending champions have now won six consecutive league matches under Martin O'Neill as they seek a 14th title in 15 years. It's all set up to be an epic encounter, but has the Tynecastle outfit's best chance gone? Or can they still make history?"

"McInnes and his players can certainly take confidence from their matches against Celtic this season. In October, they swept aside Brendan Rodgers' side 3-1 at Tynecastle to solidify their title credentials. And two months later, they travelled to Glasgow and spoiled Wilfried Nancy's first match as Celtic boss, winning 2-1 in a gutsy display. Most recently, Celtic were denied all three points in Gorgie by Claudio Braga's late equaliser."

""We've been there and won a couple of times during my time as a Hearts player," captain Lawrence Shankland said after the midweek win over Falkirk. "We go there confident and we've been top of the league all season. It's a 90-minute cup final. If you offered us that at the start of the season we would have taken it.""

Hearts entered Wednesday with a realistic path to winning the Scottish Premiership, needing to avoid a three-goal defeat at Celtic Park on Saturday. A 3-0 win over Falkirk left them close to the top, but Celtic’s controversial 99th-minute penalty win over Motherwell reduced Hearts’ margin to one point. Hearts must now secure results in front of 60,000 Celtic fans without key players. They have been unbeaten against Celtic in three league meetings this season, including a 3-1 win at Tynecastle, a 2-1 win in Glasgow, and a late equaliser that denied Celtic victory. Celtic have won six consecutive league matches under Martin O’Neill and are seeking a 14th title in 15 years.

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