Celtic, Rangers and Hearts face crucial title challenges on Sunday | OneFootball

I still don’t rate Jambos title chances but winning at Ibrox will clearly change that, while Celtic simply must win at Rugby Park ahead of the Rangers v Hearts game…

3rd February 2026; SMISA Stadium, Paisley, St Mirren v Hearts; Miguel Freckleton of St Mirren heads the ball and scores in the 88th minute to make it 1-0 to St Mirren Photo Vagelis Geogariou

Hearts have had a superb season, there’s no denying that. Derek McInnes’s side have continually proved the doubters wrong, and sit top of the table and deservedly so. The league table never lies after all and they have now been top for 20 weeks going all the way back to September.

With it being mid February, you could say that the Jambos are very much title contenders, but in my honest opinion, I still don’t rate their chances of being there come May when the big prize is handed out.

3rd February 2026; SMISA Stadium, Scottish Premiership. St Mirren v Hearts. Derek McInnes applauds the fans after the final whistle. Photo Vagelis Geogariou

The fact that Hearts are still seen in contention for the title, is another damning indictment on ourselves as a football club, and how far we’ve have fallen under the inept leadership of our current custodians. But fair play to the men in maroon who have taken full advantage of our incompetence, and are dreaming of an achievement that no one would have ever dared imagined, not even the most die-hard Jambo.

In his match preview interview with Sky Sports today Derek McInnes talks about his initial target was to get 18 wins as quickly as possible this season so they could reach the European qualification places after finishing in the bottom six last season.

“It is finely poised at the top of the table,” McInnes said ahead of the trip to Ibrox. He added: “Most people would have thought we would have fallen away by now.”

For me, there is one more obstacle Hearts need to overcome to be seen as a serious threat in my eyes, and that is to leave Ibrox with all three points on Sunday evening. If they do that then they will deserve to be considered title contenders and perhaps even favourites.

Kieran Tierney and Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy are seen during the Premier League match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on December 07, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Folk will point out that they did just that earlier in the season, but that was a totally different scenario altogether. Back then theRangers were in completely disarray then, similar to ourselves under the management of Wilfried Nancy, with absolutely no pressure at all on the Jambos that day, but Sunday will be a completely different ball-game, and it will test the men in maroons mental strength to the fullest.

And McInnes knows the score in Scottish football when it comes to refereeing decisions going the way of any club -old or new – playing out of Ibrox, something that the Hearts support have recently come to realise as they see the assistance given to theRangers as they mount what at one stage earlier in the season to be an unlikely challenge.

READ THIS…“They have built momentum based on these cheating decisions,” Jambo view

Being expected to do something positive in the eyes of your own supporters, and the SMSM, brings great pressure that the Hearts players have never experienced. Something that takes great resolve to overcome, do they have the inner strength required to face that challenge head on?

Of course their hosts are well known for their own inability to rise to the occasion when the pressure is fully on, so the Jambos have a fighting chance of leaving Glasgow with a positive result.

If they do just that, then me and more than a few others will take their title chances that little bit more seriously. Personally I’d be happy on Sunday night if Celtic pick up the three points while the match at Ibrox ends all square.

That would leave Hearts still top on 58 points, Celtic second on 54 points with a game in hand and theRangers on 53 points having played the same number of games as Hearts. If there had to be winner at Ibrox (assuming Celtic win earlier in the day) then is probably better for us for Hearts to lose.

That would be see Hearts remaining on 57 points, theRangers on 55 points  and Celtic on 54 with a game over the other two.

Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic, Scottish Cup 4th Round, Rugby Park. Sunday 18 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou ( The Celtic Star)

If Hearts win they will be on 60 points, eight clear of theRangers who would drop to third with Celtic (again if we win at Rugby Park) going second on 54 points with. game in hand.

For Celtic getting the three points against Kilmarnock is a necessity or it could be us slipping out of the race. Gordon Strachan has been speaking to The Celtic Star about this title race and the comparisons and lessons to be learned from the dramatic 2008 title triumph when Celtic had to chase down Rangers FC to win the title. It’s well worth a read.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Exclusive Interview – Gordon Strachan talks to The Celtic Star

Gordon Strachan, manager of Celtic, and Walter Smith, manager of Rangers, look on during the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Parkhead on April 27, 2008. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Read The Celtic Star’s Exclusive Interview with former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan on how Celtic ‘clawed back’ title in 2008 and lessons for this season’s title chase. He names his three best signings for Celtic, one is a given but the other two might surprise you! And much more too.

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Get your copy of Majic, Stan and the King of Japan – The Story of Gordon Strachan’s first season as Celtic manager from Celtic Star Books for only £10 plus P&P and your book will be personally signed by the author Matt Corr…

Majic, Stan & The King of Japan available for only £10 plus P&P on Celticstarbooks.com/shop

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