Hearts are the surprise Premiership leaders as Celtic will look to change that when domestic football resumes this weekend.
Perhaps the October international break came at the wrong time for both Celtic and Hearts because the top two secured stoppage-time wins last time out.
As a result of it, Derek McInnes’ men are two points ahead of Celtic, who are usually used to sailing on their own, but now they have company.
How long can Hearts maintain this? As Andy Halliday made it clear what is being said in the Tynecastle dressing room.
- READ MORE: Hearts and Rangers loom as Celtic’s next seven results before November international break predicted
Hearts dressing room talking about Celtic title race?
Hearts’ new investor, Tony Bloom, wants to win the title, and he made that clear before a ball was kicked this season – he has a history at his previous clubs of achieving the impossible with underdogs.
Speaking to Open Goal, Halliday made it clear that he is ‘not having for one minute’ that the Hearts players aren’t talking about a title race.
Whilst it was questioned by an Open Goal panel member if Celtic can reach their usual high standards, Halliday thinks it’s only a matter of time before they get there.
“By the way, I am not having it for one minute; they aren’t talking about it in the dressing room,” said Halliday. “They have to be.
“Rangers are where they are. I still think Celtic will get to that level that they usually are. But they aren’t there now.”
Si Ferry: “What makes you think Celtic will get to that level?”
Halliday: “For years, they have been doing it. Genuinely, that’s it.”
Ross McCormack: “You would think in January, as well, they will get a wee pot of cash to go and spend off this guy, Bloom.”
Halliday: “See, on the flip side, what will Celtic spend?”
Andy Halliday’s Hearts and Celtic prediction at Tynecastle
From Celtic’s perspective, they haven’t started the season well, yet they are unbeaten on the domestic stage and only two points behind Hearts.
The Hoops are used to this sort of pressure, but Hearts aren’t. Despite that, Halliday told Open Goal that his former side will beat the champions of Scotland at Tynecastle on October 26.
Ferry: “After seeing Celtic against Motherwell. Can Hearts win it?”
Halliday: “Hearts will beat Celtic at Tynecastle in two weeks.”
Ferry: “Wow. That’s what we need from you.”
Halliday: “There’s a prediction from me. I think Hearts will beat them in two weeks. You see any hope of a title race, Hearts need to win that game at Tynecastle, I think. To actually stay in it, as long as they possibly can.
“If Celtic win and go ahead of Hearts in the table, you just feel it’s going to get to a point where they are going to stretch their lead all the time.
“But if Hearts win, and it gets to five points. Say Hearts even lose a couple of games, and then by January, they are one point behind. Do you know what I mean? They are still close.
“I actually think they need to win that game to kind of stay within it.”
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