Former Hearts boss thinks Jambos can sink Celtic title hopes with 'pivotal' win despite injured Tynecastle duo
The former Hearts and Leicester City man has been crunching the numbers regarding the title race.
Former Hearts player and manager, Robbie Neilson believes a Hearts win on Sunday may well leave Celtic with too much to do in the title race - but concedes it will be ‘difficult’ without Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland.
The Tynecastle duo have been instrumental in Hearts’ success this season, however with both out for up to two months, the timing of their injuries couldn’t be much worse, with upcoming fixtures against fellow title contenders Celtic and Rangers.
Hearts will face the former this weekend, in what could be a season-defining Gorgie fixture. Derek McInnes has a 100% win record against both sides of the the Old Firm so far this season and will be well aware that a win on Sunday would put Hearts nine points clear of the green half of Glasgow.
As we approach the business end of the season, the Champions can never be written off to go on a late successive run of victories, like they’ve done so often in recent years and with Martin O’Neill at the helm, their fortunes on the park are already starting to change for the better. Despite this, Neilson believes a Hearts win on Sunday would leave The Hoops with a mountain to climb.
Neilson crunches numbers on a Hearts win
Speaking on BBC Sportsound’s Scottish Football Podcast, Neilson said: “this game at the weekend is massive for both clubs. Massive for Hearts to take that next step but also, if Celtic lose that game, they’re nine points behind with 14 to go, I'm not sure Hearts will lose another three or four games to allow Celtic back in it.
“I think this game is a real pivotal moment in the season. The thing is as well, they've got these injury problems. If they can come through this game against Celtic at the weekend and win without Shankland and Devlin, all of a sudden you're looking at Hearts and thinking, well where are they going to slip up?
“I think if they win at the weekend, I wouldn't say it's all done, but it’d be a massive step because they've got only 14 games to go. Hearts would need to lose three games and Celtic would need to win about 14 and we can see this season that Celtic haven't been a team that have been able to go 14 in a row.”
Difference-maker Shankland a huge loss
He continued: “I think it will be difficult to be honest with you (losing Shankland and Devlin). I think this is the real challenge now for Hearts and also for Jamestown Analytics, can they get someone in? I remember watching the Dundee game a couple of months ago where Dundee actually started really well at Tynecastle and were probably on top and then out of nowhere Lawrence (Shankland) scored a left-footed shot from about 25 yards.
“It changed the game like that and that's what Lawrence can do. A lot of the games this season have been tight games and then there's been a moment of magic, most of the time that comes from Lawrence Shankland. Also, Hearts are losing that real threat they have with Lawrence because I think when they attack, a lot of the focus goes on him from the opposition and then it allows someone else to be free.
“I think Cammy Devlin is a big loss as well because he brings that intensity and aggression within the midfield. I think (Beni) Baningame is available for the weekend but he's got the suspension potentially coming up after that, so he’ll be a loss as well because the two of them in that centre midfield, have a great relationship as I know because I've coached them!”