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Charlie Mulgrew flags ‘mad’ Hibernian situation as Celtic chase Hearts in Scottish title run-in

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Celtic are losing grip of their Premiership crown, but they have one last chance to salvage a mostly abject campaign.

Hearts lead the charge at the top of the Premiership table, with Rangers second and Celtic trailing the leaders by five points in third spot.

Everyone is intrigued about how the post-split fixtures are going to play out, as Charlie Mulgrew thinks fifth-placed Hibernian are going to find themselves in a ‘crazy’ dilemma.

“Do you know who is in a mad position?” stated Mulgrew.

“Hibs are in a crazy position. They have to play Celtic and Rangers. They know they are helping Hearts. What a mad position to be in.”

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Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill is seen during the Premier League match between Celtic and Dundee
Callum McGregor and James Forrest lift the Scottish Premiership title
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Will Hibernian help Hearts beat Celtic and Rangers to the title?

Martin O’Neill has suffered two domestic defeats during his two spells in charge this season, including against Hibernian on home soil.

If David Gray’s side can do it once, there is no reason why they can’t do it again. Dundee United have beaten Celtic twice, so that threat is very much there.

But as Mulgrew pointed out on Go Radio, if Hibs do take any points away from Celtic or Rangers, then they are increasing the chances of their bitter rivals becoming champions of Scotland.

Nobody yet knows the makeup of how the post-split fixtures will play out, such as when the Glasgow derby will be played, and who each team faces on the final day.

Bearing that in mind, some are suggesting that this three-way title battle could go down to the final kick of the season.

If that does happen, then Mulgrew painted a quite astonishing picture, and that’s Celtic needing to beat Hibernian on the final day of the season to win the title.

“I think coming down to these crucial games, experience will count, and know-how will count,” said Mulgrew.

“But what Hearts have in their favour coming into these last games, they aren’t conceding goals. They are winning 1-0, and defences often win you leagues. When you are keeping clean sheets, you only need one goal to win a game. I feel like Hearts are the most likely to keep clean sheets at the moment.

“It kills me to say it, but it just feels like Celtic have a mountain to climb. They need to win every game.

“If it comes down to the wire, who would you want on the last day? They must be having a nightmare trying to work the fixtures.

“Do you know who is in a mad position? Hibs are in a crazy position. They have to play Celtic and Rangers. They know they are helping Hearts. What a mad position to be in.

“Imagine Hibs have got Celtic on the last day, and if Celtic win, they win the league, and they play Hibs. I am leaving that there.”