Celtic & Hearts set for titanic title duel
"It will be bedlam," said Derek McInnes as he prepares to take Hearts to Celtic Park for the final-day decider in the Scottish Premiership. The Edinburgh side have been out in front since September and have a one-point lead after 37 games. Avoid defeat and Hearts will be champions of Scotland for the first time since 1960.
No team outside the Old Firm duo of Celtic and Rangers has finished top of the pile since Aberdeen in 1985 and this is Scotland's first final-day title shootout between the top two since Rangers edged out the Dons in 1991. Celtic must win to defend their crown and make it five-in-a-row. As if emotions weren't heightened enough, it could be a final home game for stand-in boss Martin O'Neill, the veteran saying there was a "reasonable chance" of that being the case.
He expects an "electric" atmosphere. "Pure box office," is how McInnes described the Saturday lunchtime game. Has last-gasp Celtic penalty undermined Hearts' hopes?
The 12:30 BST kick-off at Celtic Park will have the eyes of the world on it. BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound will be on air from 11:30 and will provide commentary, with text updates on the BBC Sport website and app. Match highlights will be shown on Sportscene, BBC Scotland and iPlayer from 19:15.
Celtic have momentum as they aim for a seventh successive league victory. Performances have not always been convincing but they have been getting over the line. Hearts had a wobble before the league split, picking up just one point from four away games, but they have responded well with three wins and a draw since the division broke in two for the run-in.