Title showdown: Celtic and Hearts set for historic final day clash

The Scottish Premiership title race has come down to Hearts and Celtic vying to be champions in a one-game shoot-out.

The stakes could hardly be any higher with Hearts having a one-point advantage over Martin O’Neill’s side, who won in the most dramatic fashion at Fir Park on Wednesday night.

Hearts, who haven’t won a title since 1960, have led the pack for most of the season and are closing in on history under Derek McInnes.

But current champions Celtic have hit form at the right time, and a last-gasp, and hotly-debated, Kelechi Iheanacho penalty took the title race to the final hurdle.

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The Jambos, who are undefeated at home all campaign, swept past Falkirk on Wednesday night and for a moment thought they would be champions.

But in North Lanarkshire, a storm was brewing in a five-goal thriller that saw Celtic awarded a penalty that would be the last kick of the ball.

Celtic have lost eight league games this season but host the Jambos in front of a rabid 60,000 support on Saturday afternoon.

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Kelechi Iheanacho converted a spot-kick in the final minute of injury time to keep Celtic one point behind McInnes’ Hearts

Hearts know that a draw will be enough to win the title, while Celtic have to win to retain their crown for a fifth season in a row.

Games that have defined the season…so far

Dundee United 2-0 Celtic (December 17)

Celtic’s second visit of the season to the City of Discovery could hardly have gone worse than the 2-0 defeat to Dundee in October that ended Brendan Rodgers’ tenure at the club.

Step up Wilfried Nancy, who would eventually last just 33 days in post at Celtic Park, and his side to lose again, this time to United.

That defeat had followed a loss to Hearts the week prior, a 3-1 win for McInnes and co proving to be another definitive moment in the title race.

Hearts 2-2 Celtic (January 25)

As powder-keg clashes go, this one did not fail to deliver.

Four goals, VAR controversy and a late equaliser from Claudio Braga capped off an action-packed afternoon.

Hearts showed they were not willing to go down easily and still remain unbeaten against the Hoops this season.

Kilmarnock 2-3 Celtic (February 15)

Celtic’s powers of recovery have been nothing short of a guarantee in recent title-winning seasons.

And from the depths of despair at 2-0 down in East Ayrshire, a last-gasp Julian Araujo winner sealed a crucial victory in Martin O’Neill’s 300th game in charge of the club.

It wouldn’t, however, prove to be the start of a run of form with the Hoops losing to Hibs the following week and salvaging a draw at Ibrox two weeks later.

Hearts 2-1 Rangers (May 4)

On May 4, it was written in the stars that it would be a crucial day in the title race.

And while Rangers tore up the Hearts script with a goal from Dujon Sterling inside 23 minutes, it would be the Jambos who roared back to maintain their unbeaten home record.

Goals from Stephen Kingsley and a bullet from Lawrence Shankland sent Tynecastle into overdrive, and at the end of the game, the stadium was emblazoned with “three to go, keep believing”.

Motherwell 2-3 Celtic (May 13)

Football fans were firmly focused on Fir Park and Tynecastle on Wednesday night, and the box-office drama delivered.

Motherwell dented Celtic with a first-half goal, before the Hoops fought back through Maeda, but with just five minutes of normal time to go, the game was locked at 2-2.

And with the final scene of this Hollywood-esque movie, it was Celtic who came out on top after being awarded a last-gasp penalty.

Controversy surrounding that penalty award sent shockwaves through Scottish football and beyond, and has set up the most tantalising of finales on Saturday.

The final day drama: What does history tell us?

The title will be decided in Glasgow’s east end on Saturday.

In 2005, Rangers clinched the league title on a final day filled with drama as Celtic fell to defeat at Motherwell despite being two points ahead going into the last game.

In 1986, the last time Hearts came this close to a title triumph, they lost the league on the final day to Dundee after a run of 27 games unbeaten.

It was Celtic who put five goals past St Mirren to draw level on points with the Jambos, clinching the title at the final whistle thanks to their superior goal difference.

Hearts will be hoping there’s no repeat of that heartache almost 40 years on when they travel to Glasgow.

It truly is winner takes all.