Hearts are top of the Premiership with four games to play, and that alone was enough to sharpen the talk around their trip to Rangers. Scott McDermott said he could see it finishing 1-1, a result he called far better for Hearts than Rangers, while Fraser Wilson backed a home win for the Tynecastle side and another huge step toward the title.
The panel agreed the stakes are immediate. Scott Burns said Hearts’ big result against Hibs last week gave them momentum, and added that if they beat Rangers then Danny Rohl’s side can be ruled out of the title race. McDermott expected Celtic to beat Hibs fairly comfortably, but Burns said the Hoops still need to win to retain their title.
That makes the next round of matches more than a routine title-race checkpoint. Hearts arrive with the edge of a derby win over Hibs behind them, and Tynecastle has been described as an absolute fortress this season. Rangers, meanwhile, face a result that could shut the door on their own challenge if Hearts take another step forward.
Hibs are not simply playing out the schedule. Wilson said they will not take their foot off the gas because they still have European spots and fourth place to fight for, and Burns said they also need to win in the battle for fourth. McDermott added that very few Hibs fans want to see Hearts win the league, which only adds to the pressure on a fixture that matters well beyond Edinburgh pride.
The individual awards debate carried the same edge. McDermott said Derek McInnes should be his winner for best boss regardless of how the title race ends, and added that his current Player of the Year is Lawrence Shankland. Wilson also backed McInnes, saying he has transformed Hearts from a bottom-six side into proper title material, while Burns said he would probably go with Claudio Braga because the forward’s goals have been massive in getting Hearts to the top of the table. Burns also said he was surprised Jens Berthel Askou was not in the mix.
Even with different picks, the direction of travel is clear. Hearts have turned the final weeks of the season into a test of nerve rather than a chase, and if they keep their grip at the top, McInnes’ team will move from surprise contenders to champions in all but name.
