Celtic Pursue Hearts as Rangers Exit the Title Hunt
In the latest episode of The Celtic Way Weekly, hosts Hamish Carton and John McGinley analyzed a pivotal weekend that has reshaped the Scottish Premiership landscape. Following a significant defeat for Rangers at the hands of Hearts, the podcast team suggests the title race is now a two-horse sprint between the Edinburgh side and the defending champions.
The Current Standings
Rangers appear to have fallen out of contention, leaving a narrow gap at the top. While Celtic currently trail league leaders Hearts by 3 points, the path to the trophy remains within their control if they can secure a perfect record in their final fixtures.
| Upcoming Match | Location |
|---|---|
| Rangers | Celtic Park (Home) |
| Motherwell | Fir Park (Away) |
| Hearts | Celtic Park (Home) |
A Shift in Momentum
Hamish Carton expressed a renewed sense of confidence regarding the club’s trajectory. He noted that the atmosphere surrounding the team has shifted recently, citing the energy during the Falkirk match and the vocal support from the stands this past Sunday as evidence of a turning tide.
Carton remains optimistic about the advantage of playing at home during the season’s closing stages. He stated that he has always believed the dynamic changes when rivals like Rangers and Hearts have to travel to Celtic Park. Despite the challenges faced earlier in the campaign after the match at Tannadice, he is officially backing Celtic to claim the title.
Key Takeaways
- Rangers’ Status: The hosts believe Rangers are effectively out of the running.
- The Target: Celtic must win their remaining 3 games to guarantee the best possible chance at the trophy.
- The Decider: The final day clash against Hearts at Celtic Park is shaping up to be a winner-takes-all scenario.
Beyond the title talk, the podcast also touched on recent academy performances and Alistair Johnston’s insights into the squad’s internal mindset during the injury-plagued stretches of the season. For those looking to dive deeper into the tactics and opinions, the full video episode is available via The Celtic Way.