Scottish Premiership: Hearts, Celtic & Rangers fans on title favourites and what winning the league would mean to them | Football News

With four games remaining, there are just four points separating the top three teams in the Scottish Premiership ahead of a delectable double-header – live on Sky Sports.

League leaders Hearts increased their advantage at the top to three points last weekend as chasers Celtic overtook Old Firm rivals Rangers – who are one point further back in third.

The resurgent champions visit Hibernian on Sunday – live on Sky Sports from 11am – with Martin O’Neill’s side looking to go level with the Jambos at the league’s summit.

That is before the big one at Tynecastle on Monday evening – live on Sky Sports from 5pm – when Hearts have the chance to effectively eliminate Rangers from the title race – the visitors know they must win to keep any realistic hope of league glory alive.

Ahead of the most trepidatious round of fixtures yet, we gathered the thoughts of whom this matters to most, the fans…

Who are favourites for the title?

Hearts fan Liam Corbett from This Is My Story Podcast: “Probably just about Hearts right now. I think we’ve been probably the most consistent out of the three.

“We’ve got the three-point advantage, 50 per cent of our games left are at Tynecastle, we’re unbeaten at home and we’ve been very good against the top-six sides. I think as each game goes by, if we can keep any form of points gap between us and the other two. I think it just keeps us out there in front as the favourites.”

Celtic fan Tino Callaghan from Celtic Exchange Podcast: “I suppose you would have to say Hearts with a three-point lead with four games to go.

“I was going to say on paper, they would be favourites, but I’m not sure if they’re the bookies’ favourites. I had a look at that just last week and, at that time, the bookies were still Celtic and Rangers both to be more likely than Hearts.

“But people are expecting or have been thinking Hearts might fall away, and as I say, with four games to go, they’re still more than in the mix. They’re top of the pile.”

Sunday 3rd May 11:00am


Kick off 12:00pm

Rangers fan David Herd from 4 Lads Had A Dream Podcast: “Right now, I would say Hearts are favourites because they have the most points.

“Given that all three teams have had a habit all season of dropping points – then points in the bank are probably the thing that’s most important.”

What would title success mean?

Liam Corbett: “Where do you even start? I’m 41 this year and I’ve been saying for ages that it’s not the trophy, it’s not the ribbons on the trophy, it’s not the street parades and all that stuff.

“I’ve been going to Tynecastle and been following Hearts from the minute I was born with my dad. My dad is 66 years old, he’s never seen Hearts win a title.

“That moment of the referee blowing the full-time whistle and being able to turn to my dad after all the highs, all the lows, the Tuesday nights, the relegations, the demotions, the cup losses and the heartaches. To be able to turn and celebrate with my dad that we’ve won something that he’s dreamed about his whole life and that I’ve dreamed about my whole life.

“That’s the thing, you can’t bottle that, that’ll be unbelievable. A family, a legacy and two lifetimes of absolute unbridled joy.

“I’ll probably cry my eyes out, he’ll probably cry his eyes out, but that’s the moment that is the most exciting of all. It’s just to be there and to do it with my dad by my side will be unbelievable.”

Monday 4th May 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Tino Callaghan: “It would certainly be one of the most enjoyable, the most satisfying in recent times.

“And it’s not to be complacent to say we’ve won 13 out of the last 14 titles and sometimes it’s been a bit of a procession.

“Usually at this time, end of April, start of May, it’s kind of done, but not so much this time. I think generally speaking, that’s to be encouraged. It’s good for Scottish football and if you see teams like particularly Hearts, Motherwell and Falkirk, all improving, that’s got to be good.

“Celtic, on their own accord, must also continue and improve. We’ve seen several bumps in the road this season on and off the park. We need to get that right and maybe the improvement of others has been a stark reminder of that.

“For all those reasons, for the ups and downs of the season so far, I think it would be so enjoyable and so satisfying if we do manage to get this one over the line.”

David Herd: “It would be like a return to the days that I expected for the vast majority of my life as a Rangers supporter.

“I’m totally fed up not winning things. I think that’s probably the best way of putting it. Recent history has been terrible.

“We’ve only won one title, and it was without the fans there. I personally haven’t seen Rangers winning a title since 2011.

“It’s everything for us. I want to be first to 56 [league titles].”

Would you support the opposition, if it stopped one of your rivals winning the title?

Liam Corbett: “The reason we love Scottish football is because of its rivalry and its bitterness.

“Everything in football is about rivalry. If you can’t win trophies or achieve the targets of your season, the next best thing is your rivals also not being able to hit their targets or achievements.

“In any scenario where Hearts could lose and directly impact Hibs not having a good summer, not smiling, not celebrating, then yes 100 per cent. I would want Hearts to make sure that they kick Hibs in the teeth at every opportunity.”

Tino Callaghan: “It’s such a question, it’s such a hypothetical, and I hope it remains a hypothetical because you know, just as a club, you should always be striving to always do your best and win your own games.

“But it would be such a unique situation in theory, if Celtic allowed Hearts to win on the final day to prevent Rangers from winning a title… I don’t know.

“I’m going to bounce it. I just hope that Celtic win every game they take part in and the sensible approach will be to say that. So I’ll stick with that line.”

David Herd: “I think luckily for us, it can’t work out that way.

“So I don’t think I need to think that way. I think the Celtic vs Hearts game being last, I think that’s a question for Celtic supporters and Hearts supporters.

“But I don’t think with the run-in we have with Hibs and Falkirk as our last two games that I need to think that way.”