The 2023–24 Scottish Premiership competition is super tense! Hearts take a seven point lead over Celtic, who are finally starting to turn the corner. At the same time, Rangers sit six points behind their rivals Celtic, preparing the field for a thrilling title race. With Hearts remaining unbeaten in the league, their recent form could prove critical as they prepare to face tough opponents in the coming fixtures.
Second Hearts are clear at the top of the table with 30 points from 12 matches. That’s their best start since the 2005/06 season! They suffered a blow in their last game against Dundee United where they could only draw 1-1. This result was their second draw of three league matches, casting doubt on whether they’d be able to hold onto their slim lead.
Hearts’ Recent Form
Yet even with all the draws, Hearts have emerged as a national power capable of winning the league. They’ve beaten both Celtic and Rangers away from home already this season, proving they are more than a match for the best on their day. Aberdeen Coach Derek McInnes would lament his team’s luck after the most recent tie. He pointed to a “quality issue” as the main thing preventing his side from winning all three points.
“It actually feels as if we’ve lost a game in the dressing room, which is no bad thing,” – Derek McInnes
McInnes admitted that draws are meant to be experienced like losses but added that he is positive on where his team is at overall. Getting to 30 points by November, that’s pretty astonishing. This accomplishment is remarkable, particularly because they’ve played far from their best in their last few games.
“Draws should feel like defeats, particularly at Tynecastle. But listen, we’re in the second week in November, we’ve got to 30 points after 12 games,” – Derek McInnes
Looking ahead, Hearts do now have very cute away games to Aberdeen and Motherwell in the future. They can thank their stars that there are no Europa League matches lined up between these games. This enables them to plan and focus more independently on the league.
Celtic’s Resurgence Under O’Neill
Celtic has led a remarkable resurgence since tabbing Martin O’Neill as interim manager. The squad is riding high after consecutive league victories and an advancement into the League Cup final. O’Neill’s arrival appears to have sparked a fire in the players’ bellies, resulting in visibly hungrier players on the field.
“Great to win, great to score a few goals, and just a nice performance in terms of confidence building again,” – Martin O’Neill
Celtic wins at home by a number of instances — 11 points ahead of nearest opponent, second-place Rangers. They’re hell-bent on catching up to Hearts and taking back their place as title challengers. With two convincing victories in O’Neill’s short tenure the players are becoming more confident and building some momentum.
O’Neill is realistic about the challenges ahead, but main concern is keeping things headed in the right direction.
“I genuinely don’t know that at all, I’ll take a little time to reflect on the fortnight that I’ve had, and see where we go,” – Martin O’Neill
Rangers’ Climb Under Röhl
Rangers, now in their new coach Danny Röhl, have enjoyed a similar resurgence. Having gone on a three-game winning run since his arrival, they now sit a mere six points off table-toppers Celtic. The German has continued to make his mark, winning nine points from his first three matches in the Premiership.
“I’m happy, now I can recover a little bit after a busy schedule, but I must say I enjoyed the first three weeks,” – Danny Röhl
Rangers have an even tougher road to hoe going forward. They need to keep up the pace in order to catch up with Celtic and Hearts. Each side carries unique advantages and both have been playing stunningly well of late. Whatever the outcome, it promises to be an exhilarating title race as a new season develops.
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