Hearts return to Celtic Park with title credentials to prove

Hearts visit Celtic on Sunday with a chance to show whether they can challenge for the Scottish Premiership title, returning to the ground where their hopes were shattered in last season’s dramatic final-day decider.

The 15:00 BST match comes after a strong run under new manager Wouter Vrancken: Hearts have won five and drawn one of their seven games since his difficult start, including a 5-0 victory over St Mirren last weekend. But their away form remains a concern. They have won only two of their past 11 league games on the road and kept no clean sheets in that spell. [1]

Vrancken urged his players not to dwell on the previous visit, when Celtic’s late surge ended Hearts’ title hopes. “You can’t live in the past,” he said, adding that the energy his side bring should not depend on what happened then. [1]

Hearts midfielder Oisin McEntee, who was part of last season’s squad, said the trip was not about revenge. He scored in Thursday’s 1-1 Conference League draw with Nordsjaelland, in which Hearts conceded a late equaliser. [1]

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill said he considers Hearts genuine title contenders, despite their two league defeats. Celtic have won 14 of their past 15 league matches and can move four points clear with a victory, after Rangers drew with Dundee. They have also won 26 of their past 29 home league games against Hearts, although Hearts have taken seven points from their four league meetings with Celtic last season. [1]

The match follows Celtic’s 4-1 Europa League defeat at Benfica, their fourth loss in five games. O’Neill said his side’s improved second-half response in Lisbon gave him grounds for optimism, even as discontent among Celtic supporters continues. [1]