The points Hearts need to win the Scottish league ahead of Rangers and Celtic as a historic title chance looms
Scotland’s top flight could go down to the wire
Nine wins from the remaining 10 Premiership fixtures will guarantee Hearts their first Scottish league title since 1960. If reading that seems surreal, imagine the explosion of euphoria in Gorgie if it actually becomes reality. Saturday’s win over Falkirk at Tynecastle Park, combined with Hibs’ win at Celtic Park and Livingston’s draw with Rangers on Sunday, leaves Hearts four points clear at the top of the table.
What is the minimum number of points which might win the league? Recent history shows 90-plus. Hearts currently have 60 and it would be rather unexpected, although not impossible, for them to win all 10 of their remaining matches. They have still to play Celtic in Glasgow, Hibs at Easter Road and Rangers at Tynecastle, not forgetting home-and-away fixtures against a very talented Motherwell side.
Eight wins may be sufficient for Hearts to finish first, depending on goal difference, but there is also the strong likelihood that other clubs will drop points between now and the season’s end. Second-placed Rangers currently have 56 points, Celtic are third on 54, with Motherwell fourth on 50. Hibs are in fifth spot with 45 points. All of the above will have a say in the most intense Scottish title race in many a year.
Rangers and Celtic have still to play each other twice, the first meeting coming this Sunday at Ibrox. Hearts must take care of business against Aberdeen at Tynecastle 24 hours previously and can then sit back to watch the drama unfold. Two meetings of the Glasgow two can help the Edinburgh club’s cause given at least one of them will drop points, and possibly both. The key for Hearts is to keep winning. That is easier said than done as some late-season fatigue takes hold and injury problems continue.
There is a big enough squad at Riccarton to cope with people missing. Hearts have so far minimised the impact of losing captain Lawrence Shankland and influential midfielder Cammy Devlin. Devlin is nearing a return, Shankland will be back later next month, by which time the title race will possibly be even more intense. Previous years show there are still a lot of points to be won and lost before the destiny of the Premiership trophy is known. Right now, it looks like going to the wire.
Below are the points totals from the last 10 Premiership seasons, detailing clubs finishing third, second and third. The lowest number of points which won a title during that period is 80, which Celtic amassed in 2020. However, that came after the Scottish Professional Football League ended the campaign early following the Covid 19 outbreak. The lowest points total to secure a title in a full season is 82, which Celtic reached in 2018. Hearts are likely to need at least that number, possibly more, to bring 41 years of Glasgow dominance in Scotland to an end.
TOP THREE POINTS TOTALS FROM THE LAST 10 PREMIERSHIP SEASONS
2024/25 - 1: Celtic, 92 points. 2: Rangers, 75 points. 3: Hibs, 58 points.
2023/24 - 1: Celtic, 93 points. 2: Rangers, 85points. 3: Hearts, 68 points.
2022/23 - 1: Celtic, 99 points. 2: Rangers, 92 points. 3: Aberdeen, 57 points.
2021/22 - 1: Celtic, 93 points. 2: Rangers, 89 points. 3: Hearts, 61 points.
2020/21 - 1: Rangers, 102 points. 2: Celtic, 77 points. 3: Hibs, 63 points.
2019/20 - 1: Celtic, 80 points. 2: Rangers, 67 points. 3: Motherwell, 46 points.
2018/19 - 1: Celtic, 87 points. 2: Rangers, 78 points. 3: Kilmarnock, 67 points.
2017/18 - 1: Celtic, 82 points. 2: Aberdeen, 73 points. 3: Rangers, 70 points.
2016/17 - 1: Celtic, 106 points. 2: Aberdeen, 76 points. 3: Rangers, 67 points.
2015/16 - 1: Celtic, 86 points. 2: Aberdeen, 71 points. 3: Hearts, 65 points.