Penalty pandemonium sets up Hearts & Celtic showdown for the ages

Even in the early minutes of a tumultuous night that saw Scottish football's mad-o-meter blow up in smoke, there were scenes that suggested another extraordinary chapter in the Hearts versus Celtic title story was nigh. Every time the cameras panned to sections of the Tynecastle crowd, somebody was in tears, somebody looked in pain, somebody was watching with their head in their hands. For 12 glorious minutes during the first half, they were champions of Scotland and it all seemed too much.

Winning 2-0 against Falkirk and with Celtic losing 1-0 at Motherwell, the perfect picture was forming in front of their eyes. It became blurred, of course. Everybody knew it would, but it was still a brief glimpse of what-might-be, a tantalising vision of the future they're all praying for.

We now have a denouement at Celtic Park on Saturday, a straight shoot-out between leaders Hearts and chasers Celtic. A win or a draw for Derek McInnes' team and they are champions. Forget everything you thought you knew about Scottish football at that point because everything will change if they manage to enter the cauldron in Glasgow's east end and defy Martin O'Neill, his team and almost 60,000 supporters.

O'Neill is intending to leave Celtic soon - and there is no sign at all that he intends to leave quietly. McInnes rages at 'disgusting' Celtic penalty as title race goes to final day Draw at Celtic Park will earn Hearts title after Falkirk draw Controversial 99th-minute penalty keeps Celtic's title hopes alive 'Footballing earthquake is still possible' It makes no sense that Hearts are still atop the league table with 90 minutes of the season to go. It makes no sense that they have led for the longest time despite having finances that are a mere spit in a bucket compared to Celtic's.