Charlie Mulgrew states whether Hearts are ‘serious title contenders’ after beating Celtic again

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Charlie Mulgrew has been pretty vocal about Hearts’ title challenge this season.

Even when things were going wrong for Celtic, and Brendan Rodgers was walking out the door, Mulgrew wasn’t giving Derek McInnes’ side a chance of winning the Premiership title.

Mulgrew has been there himself, winning five Premiership titles, so he understands what it takes to win Scotland’s main crown.

But has the former centre-back changed his opinion on Hearts following the Jambos’ win over Celtic on Sunday at Parkhead?

• READ MORE: James McFadden reacts to officials not being able to check Hearts’ second goal against Celtic

Charlie Mulgrew pours water over Hearts’ fire despite beating Celtic

Hearts have now beaten Celtic twice in the space of a few months, as well as beating Rangers at Ibrox, as they sit top of the Premiership table with a three-point lead – the Hoops have a game in hand.

But Mulgrew is sticking by his guns, and he made it clear that Hearts aren’t ‘serious title contenders’, as he told Go Radio.

Mulgrew noted how Hearts can produce the performances and points against teams like Celtic, who force them to play without the ball for a long time, but they struggle against the teams that they have to dominate with the ball.

“Firstly, I thought Hearts were brilliant with their game plan,” said Mulgrew. “They played on the counter-attack. Conceded possession, and they allowed Celtic to come onto them. Numbers into the box.

“The first 20-30 minutes, I thought Celtic were really good. Impressive. Hearts couldn’t get out of their own half. Celtic had one or two really good chances, that, if they take it’s a completely different game.

“The first goal is vital. It was against Celtic at the wrong time – I knew 2-0 was going to be tough to come back to – they probably deserved it for the gameplay that they had and the way they stuck to their task.

“I think the Celtic game suited Hearts. They try to play possession-based football against Kilmarnock in midweek, and Kilmarnock had the best chances.

“I think that’s why Hearts won’t stay up there. A lot of the games they play, outside of Celtic and Rangers. The onus will be on them to have possession and go and attack. I don’t think they are a possession-based team. It suits them better to play on the counter-attack.

“It’s only their second win in seven. They struggled against Kilmarnock at home in midweek after having loads of possession – I don’t think they are (serious title contenders). I think there is a reason why they are 6/1 (with the bookmakers). I am not fooled by Sunday’s game.”

Hearts’ mentality questioned

At the end of the day, despite all of Celtic’s troubles, they are still three points behind with a game in hand.

One thing the champions of Scotland know, and so do Hearts, and that’s the fact that Celtic can produce the goods when the pressure is on during the final few months of the campaign.

But can Hearts do the same?

“I just think the mentality of teams outside of Celtic and Rangers is, I mean, they have won two games in seven,” added Mulgrew.

“Celtic and Rangers can’t win two games in seven, or otherwise, it’s an absolute crisis. Right now, Celtic and Rangers are in what you would call a mini crisis.

“Both sets of fans aren’t happy. Yet they are still well within touching distance of Hearts, and with a long, long way to go.”