Martin O’Neill has reacted to the latest twist in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Rangers’ defeat at Tynecastle on Monday has left them with a mountain to climb in the race, with Hearts in the driving seat and Celtic still chasing.
With just three games remaining, there is very little room for error. As it stands, O’Neill’s men are playing to ensure that they can win the title on the final day at Celtic Park.
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Martin O’Neill: more twists ahead in Celtic title race
Asked on talkSPORT by Jim White if it’s now a two-horse race, O’Neill said: “Rangers, now, are quite a number of points behind Hearts.
“We’re talking about three games left, so that would be difficult to overcome at this particular stage. I think that’s the case.
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“It’s not impossible. It can happen; you can still win your games. And again, strangely enough, there are some very difficult matches for us all to come through.
“From our own position, we have to try and win the three games. Even that, strangely enough, at this minute, mathematically, might not be enough.
“But I still think there’s a couple of twists still left.”
On watching the game yesterday and whether it will buoy his players, he said: “Strangely enough, if you’re looking at it from a viewpoint of what you can do, all we can do is attempt to win our games, which are difficult matches.
“And even if that was the case, with Hearts having a better goal difference than us, then I suppose, probably, deep down, I was looking for a draw.
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“A draw’s very, very difficult to cheer on, but it was, I think that was the case. Because then it was put in our own hands.
“As it turns out, mathematically speaking, it’s not actually in our own hands.”
It’s a Glasgow Derby next for Celtic, whilst Hearts host high-flying Motherwell.
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