Hearts Emerge as Title Contenders After Victory Over Rangers
Hearts have established themselves as serious contenders for the Scottish Premiership title following their second victory over Rangers this season, according to former Scotland striker Kris Boyd.
Head coach Derek McInnes has indicated that he expects his team to improve further after the January transfer window.
With a 2-1 win against Rangers, the Edinburgh club remains six points ahead of reigning champions Celtic at the top of the table. This result leaves Rangers 12 points behind in fourth place.
Hearts have not claimed the Scottish title since 1960, but they are currently in their strongest position since a close race with the Old Firm in 1998.
While McInnes may be cautious about openly declaring their title aspirations, analysts are now recognizing Hearts as genuine contenders, especially considering they were at the bottom of the division just a year ago.
‘Hearts are Going to Go All the Way’
In a discussion on Sky Sports, Boyd reiterated his commitment to switch support from Hearts to Rangers if Danny Rohl's team lost at Tynecastle. He stated, "This Hearts team is there - they have arrived! They are going to go all the way. Rangers are out of it; they can forget it - 12 points is too much for them to recover."
Celtic managed to end a streak of four defeats in all competitions under new manager Wilfried Nancy with a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen later in the day, although the match was tense after the 10-man visitors equalized with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Boyd commented, "It’s not all rosy in the east end of Glasgow either, and if Hearts can capitalize on that, they are currently favorites to lift the title."
Hearts experienced a challenging run in November, earning only three points from a possible 12, which allowed Celtic, under Martin O'Neill, to close the gap. However, former Tynecastle midfielder Ryan Stevenson believes that McInnes' side has put that period behind them, having secured three consecutive victories against Celtic, Falkirk, and now Rangers.
Hearts will next face their city rivals, Hibernian, who are currently in fifth place, in a derby match on Saturday.
Stevenson remarked, "I think the belief in the changing room never wavered. Everything is so positive. They will have to withstand pressure, especially going to Easter Road for the derby against Hibs. Right now, they are handling it well."
‘We Hope to Make This a Special Season’
As for McInnes, he emphasizes the need for his team to continue improving to stay in the title race. "I certainly hope we can make this a special season," he expressed. "I often hear that we are at the top of the league because other teams are not performing as well, but our points tally reflects that of a team at the top of the table. I believe there are more victories in us, and I expect us to improve as the season progresses. We want the games to become bigger and bigger, and for Hearts to remain relevant, we need to keep accumulating wins."
Hearts have scored in 16 of their 18 Premiership matches, more than any other team in the division, with Lawrence Shankland leading as the top scorer with nine goals, including the second against Rangers.
Shankland emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performance rather than the league standings. "Once you start looking elsewhere, it can lead to issues. As long as we concentrate on securing three points each week, we’ll be in a good position," he stated.
He also noted that every week feels like a significant match, and he and his teammates are embracing the challenge. "That’s enjoyable; it’s a positive pressure to have, and it seems like the boys are thriving right now. We’re in a good place, a strong position, and we’re heading into the derby with confidence, which is great to see."