Celtic told there is one thing they are not capable of doing in title race by former Hearts star

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Celtic have been warned by former Hearts star Ryan Stevenson that the Jambos are here to stay.

Hearts have the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table this weekend due to the Hoops being in Premier Sports Cup semi-final action.

Derek McInnes’ side were held to a 2-2 draw against St Mirren in midweek, allowing Celtic to slightly reduce the gap following a thumping 4-0 victory against Falkirk.

While some sections of the media have claimed that this is the moment the Hearts bubble bursts, Stevenson isn’t so sure and believes that there is one thing that neither Celtic or Rangers can do.

• READ MORE: What Gordon Dalziel was told about Brendan Rodgers visiting Lennoxtown on his last day at Celtic

Celtic can’t go on huge winning run, says Ryan Stevenson

The win at Celtic Park was the first for the Hoops since suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time since December 2023.

Balancing cup competitions and the Europa League with their Scottish Premiership calendar means that Celtic will play a lot more than Hearts.

Stevenson thinks that this is what could hinder Celtic, and suggests that they wouldn’t be able to string together an impressive run of wins that would be enough to topple Hearts.

Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: “Even when Hearts have a blip, and they will, I don’t think it’ll be a big one because I don’t think Del will allow it. They’re going to get beat at some stage, but the wheels are not going to just blow off immediately afterwards. Not in my mind, anyway.

“Here’s the other thing. Celtic and Rangers won at the same time as Hearts were drawing with Saints, but I just don’t see either of them going on a 10-game run of victories.

“Del’s team can afford a couple of off-days so long as they get straight back onto it and I’m convinced the manager would ensure that indeed happened.”

When do Celtic play Hearts?

After falling to defeat at Tynecastle, last weekend, all eyes will be on the return fixture at Parkhead.

There won’t be that long to wait for it, with the Hoops facing the Jambos on Sunday 7 December.

By that point, Celtic could have a new manager and the table itself could look entirely different depending on how both the Bhoys and Hearts fare in the coming week.

Either way, it is setting itself up to become another blockbuster fixture.