In an increasingly controversial title race, Hearts now know what they’re up against

But Celtic are up for the fight and their 3-2 comeback at Fir Park keeps the title in their hands as well. Any victory for Celtic would do on Saturday. Amid controversy and high drama, it remains as you were and an epic showdown awaits with history on the line, perhaps the biggest club game Scottish football has produced in a generation. It is, to be frank, exactly what those in charge of the Scottish Premiership had in mind when they drew up their post-split fixtures. “It's perfect for Scottish football,” McInnes said. “The drama, the excitement, the spotlight, it couldn't be billed any better.”

The question, though, is how Hearts manage to pick themselves up from the emotional rollercoaster of Wednesday night and prepare for bringing down what is beginning to turn into a relentless march to the title from Celtic, who have now won six games in a row, and in these circumstances.

It was a strange night. Hearts did not start well but when goals from Frankie Kent and Cammy Devlin put the hosts in charge while Celtic trailed Motherwell, Tynecastle’s steep sides shook and tears were forming in the eyes of old men who thought they would never see the day. Hearts, at that point, were on course to be champions The crucial development of Celtic’s equaliser at Motherwell, with Daizen Maeda continuing his scoring streak to pull O’Neill’s side level before half time, did not reverberate around Tynecastle as emphatically. When Benjamin Nygren then fired in for 20 yards to put Celtic ahead on the night shortly after the restart, it made it as you were again.

Heart of Midlothian fans looking at a phone as they react to the Motherwell v Celtic match (Reuters)

Celtic's Kelechi Iheanacho 99th-minute goal sparked wild scenes (PA)

It also broke the spell that had transfixed Tynecastle. As the second half progressed the night was in limbo. Events at Fir Park remained impossible to look away from. Then, in the 85th minute, a thunderous, barreling sound rippled around Tynecastle that could only signal one thing: a Motherwell equaliser, as Liam Gordon scrambled in. Celtic drawing also brought another scenario into play. It would have allowed Hearts to go into the final day with a three-point lead, plus a better goal difference, leaving Celtic requiring a six or seven goal victory to overhaul the leaders. As Hearts realised this and Blair Spittal fired in a third, it carried the greater significance of giving Celtic another to chase.

Hearts had plenty to celebrate as they waited for a result at full-time: an 80-point season, an unbeaten home campaign. But no one paid any attention to the players as they embarked on a distracted lap of honour. Instead, captain Lawrence Shankland and Devlin looked up to the main stand for a signal. Claudio Braga stood over a screen, refreshing the score from Motherwell. And what they saw underlined the size of the task facing Hearts if they are to break the Old Firm’s dominance of Scottish football for the first time in 41 years.