Predictions for the Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Hearts

Our online team make their predictions for Sunday’s Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Hearts at Hampden.

There have been plenty of intriguing battles between Celtic and Hearts over the last couple of seasons

MARK ATKINSON

Despite Celtic’s recent turbulent period, they still have the deepest, highest-quality squad in Scotland - one that is more than used to winning trophies. Hearts are a decent Premiership team in Championship clothing, but Celtic are far superior to anything they’ve faced this season.

The pace, movement and intelligence of Celtic’s front-line will be a massive test of Craig Halkett and Christophe Berra. While I think Hearts have a puncher’s chance at Hampden, Celtic are more than likely to deliver a knock-out blow and land their quadruple-treble. Prediction: Celtic 3 Hearts 1.

CRAIG FOWLER

I can't decide whether it's a good thing for Hearts that Celtic have won their last two games or a bad thing. On the one hand there's the irrational supporter in me who thinks they surely weren't going to go eight games without victory, which would have been their record with failures against Lille and Kilmarnock and a defeat on Sunday. Besides, another pair of bad results in the last eight days would surely have moved the Celtic board to make a change of manager. On the other hand, there's the analytical side of me that reckons Neil Lennon might just have stumbled upon (and I use the word "stumble" quite deliberately here) a winning formula for his side.

Playing Kris Ajer at right back solidifies the defence, Ismaila Soro adds legs and energy to the midfield, which frees up Callum McGregor to do less futile running as he was beside Scott Brown, and David Turnbull has rejuvenated their flagging attack. The only real piece of the puzzle left is getting Odsonne Edouard back to his best, but playing in a national final might just do that for a player with eyes on a move to a bigger league.

With that said, two games is a small sample size in the much larger context of a season where Celtic have rarely looked commanding against any team. I expect Hearts to be thoroughly organised, disciplined and prepared to frustrate Celtic any chance they get. The longer the game goes without a goal the more the heavy pre-match favourites will begin to feel the pressure. Whenever that's happened this term they've tended to crumble. Prediction: Hearts to win 1-0 with a late goal from a set-piece.

PATRICK McPARTLIN

One of the main talking points ahead of this game will be which team Neil Lennon selects, or a variety of reasons. Does he keep faith in the players who have performed well in the last two games, or does he bring back the old guard who got Celtic to the final in the first place? The noise around that might actually suit Hearts in the build-up to a strange showpiece that could go either way.

While these types of game can always throw up surprises I think the one thing on Celtic’s side that could end up being pivotal is their strength in depth. There are players in the Hoops squad who thrive on the big occasion and while Hearts have their own big-game players – Steven Naismith, Liam Boyce, and the likes of Christophe Berra and Jamie Walker – Celtic can put out a strong team and still have three or four bona fide matchwinners on the bench.

That's not to say this game is done and dusted before kick-off; there has been no shortage of surprising results this term. But while I think Celtic will just sneak this, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the cup ended up coming back along the M8.

Prediction: Celtic by the odd goal

DAVID OLIVER

This could well be a tale of two goalkeepers. Championship side Hearts have a Premiership-calibre attack in Liam Boyce and Steven Naismith backed by Jamie Walker, which can ask questions of Conor Hazard - young, inexperienced but far from a rookie. Opposite him is one of Scotland's finest in Craig Gordon and he, Stephen Kingsley, Craig Halkett and Christophe Berra will be a match for Odsonne Edouard and Moi Elyounoussi unless the pair can finally manage to harmonise their top form for the first time this season.

That leaves the middle of the park where Neil Lennon certainly has the upper hand with Scott Brown, David Turnbull and Callum McGregor to call upon. Add a talisman like Ryan Christie able to pop up with the goods in surroundings he succeeds in and Celtic probably just have the edge.

Prediction: Hearts 1 Celtic 2

MATTHEW ELDER

If the final comes down to the quality of the two teams, then Celtic win comfortably. Craig Gordon aside, there isn't an outfield Hearts player who gets into Neil Lennon's XI. However, as has been shown over the past month, having better players than the opposition doesn't necessarily equate to results.

There is no doubt that the Celtic psyche has been eroded by recent events on and off the park. Self-doubt has crept in and the pressure on Lennon and his players to secure the quadruple treble has intensified ten-fold.

For Hearts, the pressure is off. Winning the semi-final against Hibs was everything, now they can enjoy Sunday and give it their best shot. And with wily veterans such as Gordon, Berra, Halliday and Naismith in their ranks, they have enough about them to make it an uncomfortable afternoon for Celtic. Prediction: Craig Gordon to win man of the match but Celtic to score late and edge it 1-0.