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Hearts see off Falkirk but Celtic’s late drama sets up final-day title showdown
TL;DR
Hearts secured a win against Falkirk, setting up a crucial final-day match against Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title. With their fate in their own hands, Hearts aim to end a 63-year championship drought.
Key points
- Hearts won against Falkirk
- Final match against Celtic determines the title
- Hearts have not been champions since 1960
- Celtic's late win keeps title race alive
- One point needed for Hearts to secure the championship
HeartsFalkirkCeltic
Last summer, had anyone carrying a magic lamp offered supporters of Hearts the prospect of claiming a point on the final day of the season to win Scotland’s Premiership the response would have been emphatic. Hearts have not been champions since 1960. Old Firm dominance of has lasted four decades. Breaking both moulds had been portrayed as fanciful.
Being placed in that exact scenario will give palpitations to those in maroon between now and Saturday. Hearts will travel to Celtic Park with their fate in their own hands but in opposition to a dominant club, for whom domestic success comes as second nature.
Hearts have turned heads well beyond Scotland with their superb title challenge yet the vagaries of football mean that falling short now will prove so horrendously painful. One point. So easy to say, so fiendishly difficult to achieve.
In this win over Falkirk, Hearts were as perfectly professional as has been the case for the vast majority of this season. Two goals to the good at half-time, they were never likely to be headed from there. Celtic’s late, late show at Motherwell is what takes this title thriller to game 38 of 38. Hearts took acclaim and legitimately so from this fantastic crowd at full time. What price a title party next? It will all be decided in a game for the ages in the east end of Glasgow. Hearts’ players could be legends by Saturday afternoon.
Hearts’ start was jittery. This was understandable, given the weight of history on the shoulders of footballers totally unaccustomed to being in this position.
An almighty loss when this season ends will be the Tynecastle atmosphere, which was again at fever pitch before kick-off. With that, naturally, comes pressure.
Calvin Miller had the ball in the net for Falkirk inside five minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. The Hearts defence were more confident than they needed to be over that call, which was tight. The moment epitomised Falkirk’s impressive opening.
News that Motherwell had opened the scoring against Celtic reignited the home support. Hearts had to come from behind at Fir Park on Saturday yet Celtic’s recent form – five league wins in a row – meant only the most positive Hearts supporter expected a favour in Lanarkshire. It remained the case, though, that Hearts needed to find a foothold in this game. They had not found that within the first quarter.
Q&A
What do Hearts need to win the Scottish Premiership?
Hearts need to secure at least one point in their final match against Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership.
When was the last time Hearts won the Scottish Premiership?
Hearts last won the Scottish Premiership in 1960.
What was the outcome of the Hearts vs Falkirk match?
Hearts won the match against Falkirk, scoring two goals and maintaining their title challenge.
What does Celtic's late win mean for the title race?
Celtic's late win against Motherwell means that the title race will go down to the final matchday, intensifying the competition between them and Hearts.
