Hearts 3-0 Falkirk: Tension and anxiety as Hearts learn what they need to win Scottish Premiership at Celtic

Hearts remain in pole position to be crowned champions of Scotland after beating Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle Park. The Edinburgh club are one point clear at the top of the league ahead of Saturday's final game at Celtic Park. Anything less than defeat will see Hearts crowned champions in Glasgow - their first top-flight title in 66 years.

It looked at one stage that Gorgie would be rejoicing this evening, but Celtic recovered frrom 1-0 down at Motherwell to earn three points with a stoppage-time penalty. Hearts stayed professional and focused to take care of their job and ensure a captivating final-day shootout for the title against the reigning champions. It simply doesn't get any more tense or nervous than this for the Tynecastle support. Their team has already earned a Champions League qualifying place for next season but the desire to win the league and cap an incredible campaign is now overwhelming.

On a night when Tynecastle bulged at the seams with excited and angst-ridden Hearts fans, there was always two sides to this scenario. Hearts needed to win and hope Celtic lost to finish the title race with a game to spare. It didn't materialise, adding to the growing suspense, but doing nothing for locals' heartrates and sleep patterns. A strong performance from the home side made sure of three deserved points, and they must now prepare for the closest final-day finish in Scotland's top flight for 40 years.

Yes, all this angst and nervous energy will rumble on until the weekend. With everything going on, Tynecastle felt different even before fans began shuffling through the turnstiles for this match. Any potential title-decider creates an atmosphere to tingle the spine. This was a new experience for all but the most veteran Hearts supporters. Some struggled to sleep in recent weeks, the realisation that their team might win the title causing early-morning awakenings, unsettled naps and general stress like they never before experienced. Derek McInnes’ side have led the way at the top of the Premiership since September and arrived for this fixture knowing they were two games from history.

Some tickets were selling at around the £1000 mark last week when it became clear that Hearts v Falkirk could be the day. Locals generated some quite stunning acoustics inside their spiritual home as the teams emerged. The prospect of Celtic losing and Hearts winning to secure their first Scottish title for 66 years brought out raw emotion in even the most hardened football cynic. Falkirk, though, had their own agenda as they pursued Hibs for fifth place and a chance of European football.

Four experienced Hearts players returned to the side and supporters would have had their nerves calmed slightly - only slightly - seeing Cammy Devlin, Harry Milne, Alexandros Kyziridis and Frankie Kent slot in. Watching mainstays Craig Halkett and Marc Leonard both rupture their Achilles at Motherwell on Saturday raised blood pressure levels even higher. Yet, there is plenty depth in this Tynecastle squad. The above quartet offered quality and therefore a sense of security as they aimed to influence one of the biggest nights in their club’s history.

Falkirk lost all three previous league meetings with Hearts this season without scoring a goal. However, they did eliminate the Edinburgh club from the Scottish Cup at Tynecastle in January after a penalty shootout. Anybody thinking that was drama had seen nothing as this Premiership title race began heading towards a fascinating climax. Two games from immortality, Hearts were bursting to finish the job.

Pre-match fireworks and another rousing rendition of The Hearts Song by Colin Chisholm welcomed the teams onto the pitch on a chilly but pleasant evening. Falkirk forced two early corners to test the hosts' early nerves and also had the ball in the net through Calvin Miller, who was then flagged offside. Still the din continued as Hearts supporters once again demonstrated their desire to drive this team on to new heights.

Falkirk had settled better, were moving the ball crisply and exploited some hesitation from their opponents. They pressed high in an attempt to harass Hearts and force errors. Blair Spittal was issued a yellow card on 15 minutes for a late tackle on Connor Allan. Then came an unshakeable roar spreading around Tynecastle. Fans were out of their seats making it clear Motherwell had scored at Fir Park and urging Hearts forward. Was it too early for all that drama? Either way, everybody now knew what was happening.

Whether it was news from North Lanarkshire or not, Hearts soon settled into a rhythm The Falkirk goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth appeared more nervous than anybody with the ball at his feet and Hearts rightly sought to pressurise him whenever possible. Lawrence Shankland’s deflected 26th-minute shot forced Hogarth into a save after tidy build-up play between Kyziridis and Claudio Braga. Milne began to grow in confidence in his first game since mid-March after injury. He was a constant danger with runs down the left flank. One of those led to the opening goal on the half-hour.

Milne’s run ended with a corner which Kyziridis whipped in for Kent to power a header into the net. Kyziridis and Devlin celebrated by displaying the shirts of Halkett and Leonard, who are sidelined for months. It was a nice touch in among the bedlam. With Hearts 1-0 ahead and Celtic 1-0 down, the title was heading to Gorgie. Five minutes later, Hearts went 2-0 in front. Braga broke into the penalty area and was challenged, but Devlin slid in to fire the loose ball home via a deflection off Sam Hart.

News of a Celtic equaliser filtered through to stifle the cheer a little, but not much. Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow had to tip Miller’s vicious drive over his crossbar before the break, and Stephen Kingsley replaced Milne for the second half. Falkirk brought on Ross Maciver and Ben Parkinson hoping for more of a cutting edge. Then came confirmation of a second Celtic goal at Motherwell, and the realisation that Hearts would not be acclaimed as league champions tonight. What they sought to do was score more goals in case goal difference became a live issue on the final day. They also didn't want to lose any. Kingsley's 62nd-minute block on Maciver's header was vital in that regard.

The atmosphere became more subdued, but a second Motherwell goal took care of that. Hearts fans erupted and took to their feet for the final 10 minutes. Spittal rose to the occasion and curled a brilliant third goal beyond Hogarth from 16 yards. Another roar, still Hearts went for more. Each extra goal would make the chance of losing the league on goal difference all the more unlikely. However, that possiblity was removed entirely when Celtic were awarded a rather dubious penalty for a 98th-minute winner. It finished 3-0 in Gorgie and 3-2 to the visitors in Motherwell, setting up a truly incredible showdown in three days time.