After another dramatic weekend in the Scottish Premiership title race, Hearts manager Derek McInnes has warned both Celtic and Rangers against writing his side off.
Rangers’ 4-2 victory at Ibrox over the Edinburgh club moved them to within two points of the summit, while Julian Araujo’s stoppage time winner for Celtic against Kilmarnock tightened things further. With a game in hand still to play, Celtic could yet leapfrog the current leaders.
Hearts have been the most consistent team across the campaign. Although there have been minor setbacks, they have avoided the kind of prolonged collapses seen elsewhere. Recent defeats, combined with injuries to key figures such as Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland, have prompted doubts about whether they can maintain their place at the top over the closing months.
McInnes has consistently downplayed talk of a title charge, stressing that expectations should be measured given the financial gulf between his squad and the Glasgow giants. Even so, with two months remaining before the split and a fixture list that appears kinder on paper, he believes his team remain firmly in contention.
He explained that the only pressure felt within the camp is self imposed. Having led the table for so long, the focus is on maintaining standards rather than being weighed down by outside noise. He pointed out that both Rangers and Celtic strengthened heavily in January, underlining that the race involves more than just the traditional rivalry between those two.
Hearts, he insisted, should not be overlooked. They remain top of the table and boast an impressive home record, something he hopes will prove decisive in the weeks ahead.
Four of their final six matches before the split will be at Tynecastle, with away trips limited to Kilmarnock and Livingston, who sit near the foot of the standings. While rejecting the idea that any Premiership fixture is straightforward, McInnes acknowledged that navigating a demanding run of games earlier in the season has put them in a solid position.
He highlighted the importance of their form at home, describing Tynecastle as a major asset. With several challenges still to overcome, he believes the backing of the support, combined with continued consistency on the pitch, can keep Hearts in the hunt all the way to the finish.