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Lineker Backs Hearts in “Proper Title Race” After Dramatic Weekend
Gary Lineker has revealed his preference for the Scottish Premiership winner following a thrilling weekend of action that saw Celtic secure a stunning comeback at Kilmarnock and Rangers defeat Hearts.
A Weekend of High Drama Celtic’s trip to Rugby Park captured the nation’s attention. Martin O’Neill’s side fought back from a two-goal deficit to claim a massive 3-2 victory in injury time. Back in Glasgow, Rangers hosted Hearts at Ibrox and secured a win that narrowed the gap to the league leaders to just two points. Consequently, Celtic now sits just three points off the top.
Lineker’s Verdict The former England striker discussed the unfolding drama on The Rest is Football podcast. He noted that the results have created a genuinely competitive environment at the top of the table.
Lineker explained that he tuned in for the second half of the Rangers versus Hearts match. He observed that although Hearts took the lead twice, Rangers eventually found a way to win. He added that the table is incredibly tight because of Celtic’s last-minute winner earlier that day. With Hearts leading Rangers by two points and Celtic just one point further back in third, Lineker declared it a “proper title race.”
Rooting for the Underdog Despite Celtic’s mastery of late comebacks this season, Lineker hopes to see Hearts crowned champions.
When fellow pundit Micah Richards pointed out that Celtic has a game in hand which could see them draw level on points, Lineker clarified his stance. He stated that he does not support any specific team in Scotland. However, he believes it would be excellent for Scottish football if a team outside of Rangers or Celtic won the league. He recalled that the last time this happened was under Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen in the mid-1980s, nearly 40 years ago.
The Road Ahead While Lineker hopes for a historic upset, the reality on the pitch suggests a difficult path for the current leaders. Hearts appear to be struggling to maintain their form while the performances from Glasgow’s “Old Firm” rivals are looking relentless.
Celtic’s upcoming schedule includes a home match against Hibs followed by away fixtures against Rangers and Aberdeen. The Bhoys are determined to keep their title defense alive. If they manage to take nine points from these three pivotal games, Celtic will likely reclaim the top spot. Once there, it is difficult to imagine Martin O’Neill allowing his team to let the title slip away.
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