Celtic are in unfamiliar territory as the Scottish Premiership title race goes up another gear.
There are sections now starting to believe that Hearts could win the title, but Mick McCarthy is refusing to take that stance.
The former Celtic man made it clear that he is backing Martin O’Neill to secure title number 56 in May, and stated, ‘I am not backing Rangers or Hearts.’
Tony Pulis also went down that road, as Scottish football produced another dramatic and unpredictable weekend of action.
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Mick McCarthy refuses to go against Celtic to win the Premiership title
Celtic lost to Hibernian on Sunday, whilst Rangers dropped points at ten-man Livingston. All in all, it was the near-perfect day for Hearts, who beat Falkirk on Saturday.
Derek McInnes’ men are four points clear of second-placed Rangers, and six clear of O’Neill’s men, although they do have a game in hand against Aberdeen.
Despite Celtic’s woes on the pitch, McCarthy is keeping the faith, as he even managed to lure Pulis into an answer about who will win the title, as they stated on The Managers Podcast.
Mick McCarthy: “Hearts, Celtic and Rangers. Who is going to win it? Who is going to win the title?”
Tony Pulis: “Go on, Mick.”
McCarthy: “I am having Celtic because I dare say anything else. Let’s just clear that up. I am hoping and praying that’s the case.
“I am not backing, you can say whatever you want, I am not backing Rangers and Hearts to beat Celtic. No chance.”
Pulis: “I think we will finish on that.”
McCarthy: “See, you’re still not giving me your opinion.”
Pulis: “Celtic, of course.”
When will post-split fixtures be announced?
One massive game changer will be the post-split fixtures, and where the games will take place, because someone, somewhere, is going to be left unhappy.
There is certainly going to be an imbalance, not just between Celtic, Rangers and Hearts, but also the other three in the picture, especially title outsiders Motherwell.
Nonetheless, the SPFL have confirmed that the ‘Post-split fixtures and broadcast selections will be published as soon as possible following fixture round 33 on the weekend of April 11/12.’
Bring it on!
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