Celtic are usually cruising in the Premiership title race at this point.
But this season is very different because of how Celtic have gone about their business, as well as the emergence and the form of Hearts.
There is also Rangers winning again under Danny Rohl; they eased past Aberdeen on Sunday, as Scottish football is where it hasn’t been in decades and decades, and that’s a three-way title race.
The January transfer window is going to be crucial for Celtic, Hearts and Rangers, as Ally McCoist shared his thoughts.
- READ MORE: Celtic managed to do something under Martin O’Neill that they never achieved with Wilfried Nancy
Will we hunt Hearts down and win the title?
Ally McCoist on Premiership title race between Celtic, Hearts and Rangers
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist praised and acknowledged the work of Hearts this season, but doesn’t think they will win the title.
The former striker added that ‘for the first time in a long time’, the likes of St Mirren, Motherwell, Hearts and Hibernian can beat anyone in the league.
But McCoist also feels Celtic and Rangers ‘for the first time in a long time’ can get ‘beaten by anyone’, as they have proven on numerous occasions this term.
“The Martin (O’Neill) effect will have a lot to do with that, understandably,” said McCoist about Celtic being possible ‘favourites’ for the title. “He comes back in, goes to a (back) four straight away. Comfortable victory.
“For the first time in a long time, it’s really, really interesting. Hearts have been an absolute breath of fresh air. They are there on merit.
“Do I think they will stay the distance? Absolutely. I am not sure they will win it. But I think they will be there or thereabouts.
“Here’s what I think about the league so far: for the first time in a long time, you look at the Scottish league. St Mirren, who are struggling at the moment, but they are more than capable of beating anybody.
“Hearts and Hibs are more than capable of beating anybody. Motherwell, certainly. They might be playing the best football in the league, incidentally.
“The most important thing is Rangers and Celtic, for the first time in a long time, are more than capable of being beaten by anybody. I know Rangers have been on a good run.
“So, that’s one of the big differences, I think. I look at the league now, there is a belief about Hearts that I don’t think has been there in previous years with any other club, in terms of the long-term challenge.”
Would you follow these steps if you were on the Celtic board too?
‘Civil war’ going on at Celtic as Wilfried Nancy deserved to go
There has been a lot of unrest at Celtic this season, and far too much off-field noise, as many will be hoping O’Neill can calm the waters.
The Wilfried Nancy era was a pure disaster, and McCoist stated it was the right call for the Frenchman to get the boot from Celtic.
But McCoist touched upon the ‘civil war’ at Celtic, and how the relationship between the fans and the board isn’t changing.
“It was no surprise that Nancy lost his job,” stated McCoist. “None at all. He had to go. Losing six out of eight.
“There was nearly a revolt and a civil war going on, the way things were going on with the fans and the board, and all that kind of stuff, which I don’t think has been sorted out yet.
“But Martin coming in for the second time will certainly calm things down because he is a calming influence.
“I will say it again, a safe pair of hands. He is much better than that. Absolutely much better than that. The first thing he is, a safe pair of hands that cools everything down again. They have got a bit of stability.”
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