Hearts lead enthralling three-way battle in Scotland as as title race nears conclusion

[p]Three points separate the Jambos from third-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/celtic/QFKRRD8M/"]Celtic[/a], with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rangers/8vAWQXNS/"]Rangers[/a] just one point off the top.[/p][p]To add extra intrigue, the title contenders all still have to face off as the Scottish season enters its post-split fixtures this weekend.[/p][p]After 33 games, the top six and bottom six enter two separate mini-leagues, with each side playing once against the other five sides in their division.[/p][p][i][b]AFP Sport [/b][/i]looks at how [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hearts/0rGrwwNc/"]Hearts[/a] shook up the status quo of Scottish football and where the title will be won and lost:[/p][image alt="Premiership top five" id="f9c0365a-4416-4194-aba5-544b4c96e01b" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8e698b0d-90ec-4510-9a55-5b876d637e0a" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][h2]Hearts - 70 pts[/h2][p]The last of Hearts' four titles came back in 1960, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aberdeen/AmdbMiWq/"]Aberdeen[/a]'s triumph under Alex Ferguson in 1985 was the last time the duopoly of Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers was broken.[/p][p]However, the arrival of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] owner Tony Bloom as a minority stakeholder has allowed the Edinburgh club to punch above their weight.[/p][p]Bloom, who made his fortune as a professional gambler, has pioneered the use of data analytics to improve efficiency in player recruitment.[/p][p]In his first season as Hearts boss, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcinnes-derek/bBWLVTWt/"]Derek McInnes[/a] has blended together some gems picked out by Bloom's analytics firm Jamestown with a number of key players who were already at the club.[/p][p]Yet doubts remain over whether, having led for almost the entire season, they can get over the line.[/p][embed guid="a46ddbad-2e5a-42d5-a293-c2b07f7f7b54" url="https://x.com/JamTarts/status/2046192151097180172" social-type="twitter" /][p]Hearts have failed to win in four consecutive away games and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hearts-0rGrwwNc/hibernian-f5Fnxcx4/?mid=n53BDL4m"]face trips to local rivals Hibernian on Sunday[/a] and Celtic on the final day of the season.[/p][p]But Hearts boast by far the best home record in the league and will hope Tynecastle, where they have not lost this season, plays its part in a potentially decisive clash at home to Rangers on May 4.[/p][h2]Rangers - 69 pts[/h2][p]After a dreadful start that cost [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martin-russell/Aotm1TVI/"]Russell Martin[/a] his job, Rangers have slowly hunted down Hearts under his successor Danny Rohl.[/p][p]Martin won just one of his seven league games in charge before being dismissed in October.[/p][p]Rangers have lost just once in the league since, with a 13-point gap to Hearts reduced to one.[/p][p]The resurgence under the German was initially built on solid foundations and a string of clean sheets.[/p][p]But they have clicked offensively in recent weeks, racking up 14 goals in victories over Aberdeen, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dundee-utd/8QEB2FFp/"]Dundee United[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/falkirk/nHDF1ZUj/"]Falkirk[/a].[/p][embed guid="ff1d6e4f-675b-4150-ab65-0e6bc34b5cca" url="https://x.com/RangersFC/status/2045414920036962365" social-type="twitter" /][p]The acid test will come in visits to both Hearts and Celtic in a seven-day spell next month.[/p][p]Rangers are now the bookies' favourites to win just a second title since the club was liquidated in 2012.[/p][h2]Celtic - 67 pts[/h2][p]Despite a series of self-inflicted wounds in a chaotic campaign on and off the field, Celtic are still in the running for a 14th title in 15 years.[/p][p]Aged 74, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-neill-martin/82l54I96/"]Martin O'Neill[/a] has twice answered the rescue call of the Celtic board to take charge after Brendan Rodgers' departure and Wilfried Nancy's disastrous reign which lasted only eight games.[/p][p]A lack of investment in the squad led to Rodgers' acrimonious exit and has caused an ongoing civil war between the board and the fanbase.[/p][embed guid="a32a3ab1-f86a-4ec3-b34b-5a3514e6ce1b" url="https://x.com/CelticFC/status/2047012560105320835" social-type="twitter" /][p]Yet Celtic have consistently ground out results under former boss O'Neill, often digging themselves out of trouble with comebacks and late goals.[/p][p]The reigning champions have home advantage against both Rangers and Hearts and know that five wins will almost certainly deliver the title to the East End of Glasgow once more.[/p]