Can Hearts Win the Scottish Premiership? The Celtic and Rangers Disaster Stats That Say They Can

The Scottish Premiership title race is certainly an intriguing one this season with Hearts leading the way.

The Jambos are significantly ahead of their closest rivals, Celtic, and look unbeatable at this point.

Derek McInnes has guided his side to the top of the division having dropped points in just one of their nine fixtures so far but they do not look like slowing down.

Only a draw at home to Motherwell – which ended dramatically in a 3-3 result – has prevented the Gorgie outfit from beginning their year with a perfect 10.

No other club in the entire UK has the same record as Hearts and that leaves the Tynecastle club sitting pretty and looking comfortable with a vast lead over Celtic who are their closest rivals.

Can Hearts win the Scottish Premiership?

Of course, Scottish football has witnessed similar runs in the past. Hearts did the same thing back in 2005 before George Burley was sacked.

Aberdeen ran the show before Christmas last season only to fall off a cliff and watch as Celtic roared back to win at a canter.

This season feels different. Hearts are a legitimate contender and eight points of a difference tells fans that right away.

But what do the statistics tell supporters? What can McInnes hold onto in terms of retaining his confidence that his side can really maintain that push beyond the turn of the New Year?

We have taken a look at the stats behind both Celts and Rangers so far domestically – compared to the league leaders – in an attempt to learn what has gone wrong for them – and why that could aid Hearts’ push beyond 2025.

Celtic’s poor form worst since Covid

Brendan Rodgers has not had his troubles to seek so far this season.

Celtic fans have revolted and the holders sit second in the table and a far cry from their former selves.

The summer transfer window was a nightmare for the Glasgow giants and punters continue to protest against their boardroom and the hierarchy who control the purse strings and make the big decisions.

Has Celtic fans’ protests hurt their team? It seems that way if the numbers are to be believed.

Celtic have lost two league matches this season – including a 3-1 defeat to Hearts last weekend in the capital – and they were beaten by Dundee the previous week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9uczAAcsFc

Two draws have also hindered their title push as they failed to beat – or score against – both Rangers and Hibs.

Statistically Celtic are in the midst of their worst start to a season for 26 years when in 1998/99 they won just three of their opening 10 games.

Rodgers has to bear the brunt of that even if he was unable to add to the squad the way he wanted before September.

Even during the 2020/21 Covid season – which would see the Hoops lose the league title to Rangers by a staggering 25 points – they still won nine of their opening 10 that year before capitulating.

Hearts are currently in that form early doors but under McInnes they don’t look weak-minded.

The manager must arrest his side’s poor form quickly… very quickly, or risk being unable to see out the rest of the season in a job.

Rangers’ misery

If you think Celtic have been poor, they have looked like world beaters compared to Rangers across the city.

Russell Martin won just ONE game in the Scottish Premiership before he was sacked and broke numerous unwanted records as one of the worst boss the Ibrox club has ever had.

Martin fell out with top star Nico Raskin and had fans on his back almost immediately. What did not help the retired defender was the fact that his style of play did not suit the players he had at his disposal.

Nor did the signings made by sporting director Kevin Thelwell as results worsened.

Gers currently sit fifth in the Premiership table and a whopping 13 points behind Hearts and five behind Celtic.

They have now won two games thanks to new manager Danny Rohl’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock over the weekend but they have been entirely unconvincing.

A narrow 2-1 win over Livingston (bottom of the league) earlier in the season is all Martin had to show as well as six draws and a defeat.

Not even close to challenger territory.

Before they beat Killie, Rangers were eighth in the league and sat behind the likes of Hibs, Dundee United, Falkirk and Motherwell who had started their own terms well enough by their standards.

All things considered, McInnes and his Hearts lads have NOTHING to fear and nobody to worry about.

The boss has instilled a winning mentality to a team who have established players in their group and they have beaten both sides of the Old Firm already this season.

Keep that sort of form up and we’ll see the ending of the Celtic/Rangers duopoly under Tony Bloom’s guidance sooner rather than later.

What Derek McInnes is saying about Hearts’ title challenge

“I think there’s probably Hearts fans and maybe other fans too who think it’s good. It’s a little good spell and give a couple of pats on the back for that and I get that,” he told BBC Scotland.

“From outside in I wouldn’t be thinking any team who are eight points clear are home and hosed, particularly against a team like Celtic.

“We’ve got loads to do and I’m going to say it religiously for me, after the first two rounds of fixtures, it’s normally a good indication of where you are. If we can come through them in a strong position, we might be able to speak a bit more confidently.

“At the minute we’re just pleased with what we’re getting from the players.

“We know how difficult going to Paisley (to face St Mirren) is, so we’ve got to make sure we take the good from today and try to be as energetic and as good as we can be there.

“Every day is a challenge in the Premiership. There’s not a lot between a lot of teams, including ourselves.”