What's Next In Captivating Premiership Title Race?

ByGeorge O'Neill

BBC Sport Scotland

Last weekend, Hearts were knocked disconnected their Scottish Premiership perch - very concisely - for nan first clip since precocious September.

Rangers' 4-2 location triumph complete Dundee United took them supra nan Tynecastle outfit connected extremity difference, earlier Hearts reclaimed apical spot connected Sunday pinch an unconvincing 2-2 tie astatine Livingston.

Celtic past narrowed nan spread to nan leaders pinch a 2-1 triumph astatine Dundee arsenic this captivating title title tightened up erstwhile again.

There has still only been 1 play each play successful which nan apical 3 person each won and, pinch conscionable 1 information of fixtures until nan split, onlookers tin beryllium judge location will beryllium further twists and turns.

Hearts big fourth-placed Motherwell connected Saturday, astatine nan aforesaid clip Celtic invited St Mirren to Glasgow's eastbound end.

Both hosts person nan opportunity to put unit connected Rangers, who recreation to Falkirk connected Sunday.

Derek McInnes' broadside person stumbled connected nan roadworthy precocious - nan tie astatine Almondvale, a 1-0 reverse astatine Kilmarnock past period and defeats by Rangers and St Mirren successful February.

However, they person kept their noses successful beforehand of their richer and much successful rivals acknowledgment to a superb grounds astatine Tynecastle.

Hearts are yet to suffer successful nan convention successful beforehand of their ain fans and person had 4 consecutive 1-0 wins successful Edinburgh's west.

Doubters would constituent to those constrictive margins of triumph arsenic grounds they are apt to gaffe up astatine immoderate point, while believers would telephone it nan people of champions.

Another would guarantee their position astatine nan apical of nan array heading into nan last 5 games of nan season.

Their adjacent visitors to Gorgie are Motherwell, who person played immoderate of nan astir charismatic shot successful Scotland this play but are winless successful their past 4 outings.

The erstwhile 2 meetings this play some ended successful draws - a melodramatic 3-3 astatine Tynecastle successful August arsenic Hearts came from 3 behind, earlier a much tense 0-0 astatine Fir Park successful November.

Motherwell leader Jens Berthel Askou said he was hoping for thing person to nan first lucifer successful his pre-match media conference.

A repetition would trial nan nerves of moreover nan steeliest Hearts fan.

Part of Celtic's comparative struggles has been their inability to find a accordant striking option.

Johnny Kenny - loaned to Bolton successful January - is still their highest-scoring centre guardant this season, pinch midfielder Benjamin Nygren starring nan way.

Daizen Maeda has often been shifted wrong disconnected his preferred near flank and has struggled to replicate his shape from erstwhile campaigns.

Kelechi Iheanacho was signed connected a free by erstwhile leader Brendan Rodgers, but has been incapable to build up a caput of steam because of injuries.

January arrivals Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu person grounded to nail down a starting berth - Adamu has been substituted astatine half-time successful some his convention starts and has not been successful nan matchday squad for 2 of Celtic's past 3 convention games.

Cvancara was substituted astatine Dens Park past weekend, having missed a flurry of chances, and his replacement Iheanacho slammed successful a melodramatic precocious winner.

Manager Martin O'Neill has spoken much than erstwhile astir really his squad cannot spend galore - if immoderate - much slip-ups successful their last six convention matches, and he could do pinch immoderate consistency successful guardant areas to execute it.

The defending champions mightiness person nan easiest fixture of nan apical 3 connected insubstantial this play but St Mirren person won back-to-back games nether interim head Craig McLeish and are battling to debar nan dreaded relegation play-off. The 2 sides will meet again successful adjacent Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final.

It seems apt O'Neill will commencement Iheanacho aft his effect disconnected nan chair against Dundee. How he and his nine would emotion nan Nigeria striker to spell connected a basking streak.

Much of nan attraction erstwhile nan post-split fixtures were released was connected nan tantalising final-day brushwood betwixt Celtic and Hearts, pinch Rangers' travel to Falkirk often a secondary mention.

However, John McGlynn's broadside person not mislaid against Rangers this play and will supply a stern trial some connected nan last time and this Sunday.

Russell Martin's last lucifer arsenic Rangers leader came successful October arsenic he was escorted retired of nan Falkirk Stadium amid sizeable instrumentality anger pursuing a 1-1 draw.

And, nether caller caput coach Danny Rohl, Rangers again grounded to hit nan Bairns successful November arsenic nan visitors crushed retired a goalless tie astatine Ibrox.

Should Hearts and Celtic do nan business connected Saturday, nan unit would ramp up connected Rohl's side. Top of nan array past Saturday night, they could beryllium 3rd travel kick-off connected Sunday.

And nan erstwhile 2 Sundays of Premiership action person brought shocks.

Dundee United hit Celtic 2-0 earlier nan world break, while, arsenic mentioned, Hearts dropped points astatine Livingston past clip out.

Will Rangers subordinate that inclination aliases will Falkirk propulsion a spanner successful their title complaint for a 3rd clip this season?