This time final 12 months, Celtic have been waltzing to a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title.
Rangers have been 13 factors behind, and supervisor Philippe Clement was on the point of the sack. Hearts, 36 factors again, have been flirting with relegation.
They are saying every week is a very long time in soccer; and a 12 months is a lifetime. However 12 months in Scottish soccer is an eternity.
Simply six factors now separate the league’s prime three forward of maybe the largest gameweek of the season to this point.
Third-place Celtic head to Kilmarnock, adopted by league leaders Hearts taking up second-place Rangers at Ibrox – each reside on Sky Sports activities – with Scotland head coach Steve Clarke a particular studio visitor!
Sunday fifteenth February 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
Sunday fifteenth February 4:15pm
Kick off 4:30pm
The place issues stand after the late, late present
A dramatic spherical of midweek fixtures noticed late winners from Celtic and Hearts, whereas Rangers dropped factors at Motherwell
Amid the chaos of managerial casualties, boardroom adjustments and infinite fan protests, there was one close to fixed – Hearts have topped the desk for 20 weeks.
After a dramatic finish to the midweek fixtures, that lead has stretched to 5 factors.
Tomas Magnusson’s 88th-minute strike received the Edinburgh derby whereas Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s debut stunner helped Celtic beat Livingston in damage time, and Motherwell’s equaliser on the dying denied Rangers of a treasured win.
So late objectives formed the desk as soon as once more – as they’ve completed all season.
Hearts’ Outdated Agency run to proceed or will Rangers shut the hole?
Leaders Hearts are the one group to beat Rangers within the league this marketing campaign, they usually’ve completed it twice.
Derek McInnes insists “most individuals would have thought we might have fallen away by now.”.
That is true, however we’re all previous the purpose of dismissing Hearts as plucky underdogs on this title combat.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes discusses the Scottish Premiership title race forward of Sunday’s journey to Rangers, as he edges in the direction of levelling a report set by Sir Alex Ferguson
Having spent 20 weeks on the prime, they have not flinched in 5 matches in opposition to the Outdated Agency – 4 wins, one hard-fought draw, and effectively value each level earned alongside the way in which.
Their away kind particularly catches the attention. McInnes has received at each Glasgow grounds already and is hoping to change into the primary supervisor to win three away video games in opposition to the Outdated Agency in a single season since Sir Alex Ferguson with Aberdeen in 1982/83.
For Rangers, a must-win? In all probability, however we have stated that earlier than.
A win takes them inside two factors of prime spot; a defeat leaves them an intimidating eight behind.
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