Chaotic finale leaves Hearts sitting pretty in title race

It was the desperate goalmouth scramble that could perhaps sum up a season. As Reo Hatate shot low to his left, and after Jack Butland made the penalty save, the Old Firm was hanging in the balance as an afternoon of fire and chaos flipped on its head.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Rangers 2

Chermiti (8, 26)

Celtic 2

Tierney (56), Hatate (90+1)

But, at the third attempt, Hatate forced a crucial equaliser over the line to salvage a point for Celtic and deny Rangers all three, while leaving one clear winner. With nine games to go, it is advantage Hearts once again.

A furious second-half comeback from two goals down kept Celtic’s challenge alive, but only just, on a day at Ibrox that neither club could afford to lose. It was a desperately tough blow for Rangers but, by the end, Danny Rohl’s side could have no complaints. Celtic had highlighted their shortcomings just as Rangers had fully illustrated Celtic’s after Youssef Chermiti’s astonishing double had the hosts in full control by the break.

So it is Hearts who are now six points ahead of Rangers, with Celtic a further two behind but with a game in hand. This was a good result, too, for Motherwell, whose form is currently much better than both Old Firm clubs. They are two points behind Celtic, also with a game in hand, but with plenty of points to play for against those above them as the Premiership title race approaches the season-defining split.

For now, this was a further example of why Hearts are poised to become the first club outside of the Old Firm to lift the title since 1985 - when Sir Alex Ferguson, who was watching on at Ibrox, having been at Hearts on Saturday, won it with Aberdeen.