Hearts set for final-day title showdown at Celtic after easing past Falkirk

Hearts will have to avoid defeat away to Celtic on Saturday in order to win the William Hill Premiership title after a 3-0 home win over depleted Falkirk maintained their one-point advantage at the top.

The Tynecastle side knew victory in their final home match of the campaign would see them become champions of Scotland for the first time since 1960, only if the second-placed Hoops lost at Motherwell.

While the second part of that scenario ultimately failed to materialise, Derek McInnes’ long-time leaders ensured they did enough to keep themselves at the summit heading into Saturday’s title-decider at Celtic Park.

Frankie Kent and Cammy Devlin both netted in the first half to ease the tension before Blair Spittal struck near the end as Hearts completed a full season unbeaten at home in the top flight for the first time since the 1985-86 season.

There were four changes to the Hearts side that started Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Motherwell, with Devlin and Harry Milne both restored after injury.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn, missing a string of key players, handed Sam Hart his first start since December at left-back.

Hearts made a nervy start and were relieved to see the offside flag go up immediately after Falkirk winger Calvin Miller got himself clear and fired low into the net in the third minute.

After a stressful opening to proceedings for the home support, a huge roar erupted around the stadium just after quarter of an hour as news of Motherwell’s opener against Celtic filtered through.

This seemed to galvanise the Hearts players and they soon began to seize control and force the visitors on to the back foot.

Their first notable sight of goal came in the 26th minute when captain Lawrence Shankland tested Nicky Hogarth with a low shot which deflected off Liam Henderson.

The breakthrough arrived on the half hour when centre-back Kent rose on the edge of the six-yard box to head home his first goal of the season from Alexandros Kyziridis’ corner.

Tynecastle was buoyant and Milne went close to a second moments later when he blasted just over from a Spittal corner.

Hearts had the Bairns defence rattled and they doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Claudio Braga was halted in the box and the loose ball broke into the path of Devlin, whose shot deflected off Hart and spun up beyond Hogarth to spark delirious scenes.

As the scores stood at that point, they were heading for the title before Celtic averted that scenario by mounting a comeback at Fir Park.

Falkirk threatened on a rare foray upfield just before the break when Miller’s shot was tipped over by Alexander Schwolow.

Spittal made it three with a brilliant low strike from the edge of the box in the 86th minute at a time when it briefly looked like Hearts’ were about to go three points clear with a superior goal difference before Celtic’s stoppage-time winner altered the landscape slightly.