Hearts held up their end of the bargain by beating Falkirk at Tynecastle but the Scottish Premiership title race will go to a final day decider after Celtic clinched a last-gasp victory at Motherwell.
Derek McInnes’ league leaders will travel to Celtic Park on Saturday with a one-point advantage over the Hoops after goals from Frankie Kent, Cammy Devlin and Blair Spittal secured a 3-0 win over the Bairns.
Avoid defeat in Glasgow’s east end, then Hearts will be crowned champions for the first time in 66 years. Lose and the title will be Celtic’s for a fifth successive season.
For a spell it seemed as though the league trophy would be making its way to Gorgie with a game to spare.
A nervy start by Hearts was lifted when celebrations broke out across the stadium with the news that Elliot Watt had put Motherwell ahead at Fir Park after 17 minutes.
Tynecastle then exploded when Kent bulleted home a header from an Alexandros Kyziridis corner to put Hearts in front on the half hour. The emotions really started to flow when Devlin’s deflected effort put the Jambos two up but an equaliser from Daizen Maeda for Celtic punctured the atmosphere.
When Benjamin Nygren put Celtic 2-1 ahead on 58 minutes it appeared that there would be no Wednesday night title party at Tynecastle. However, a Liam Gordon equaliser for ‘Well with five minutes remaining meant the dream was back on.
Hearts focus was now on seeing out the victory and Spittal made sure of it - and a plus six goal difference advantage over Celtic - by curling home a late third. However, goal difference was rendered moot when Kelechi Iheanacho struck a 97th minute penalty winner for Celtic to keep the gap at one point.
History now awaits the Jambos if they can stop Martin O’Neill’s men in their own backyard.
Here are the Hearts player ratings from Tynecastle:
13. Jordi Altena
Came on for Devlin as Hearts chased another goal, but was unable to create. 5 | SNS Group
