Scottish Premiership picks: Celtic face Hearts test, Neil Warnock scrutiny & can Blair Spit

[CharlieH]

 

It has already been a busy and eventful week in the Scottish Premiership and this weekend could see more twists and turns at both ends of the table as we approach the business end of the season.

A big inter-city game in Edinburgh, leaders Rangers aiming to extend their winning run against Motherwell, while Aberdeen try to stop their descent into the relegation zone.

 

Here are some thoughts to whet your appetite for the action on Saturday and Sunday:

• What will decide the Scottish title?
• Is Dons' Warnock gamble backfiring?

Game of the weekend - Hearts v Celtic

Eight days after failing dismally to live up to predictions they might trouble leaders Rangers at Ibrox, Hearts get a second chance to prove they have the potential to challenge Scotland's big two.

You would normally expect a trip to face the side sitting third to be one full of trepidation, even for reigning champions.

Especially after Hearts' shock 2-0 win at Celtic Park in December and the fact Brendan Rodgers has lost more league games to the Edinburgh side than any other, including two of his last four trips there.

However, the tight confines of Tynecastle have not proved troublesome for Celtic in the recent past, having won on their latest five visits by an aggregate of 15-5 since their last defeat there in July 2021.

Hearts are currently unbeaten in six on their own patch, and will be determined to show that last Saturday's 5-0 thrashing at Ibrox, followed by a perhaps fortunate 1-1 home draw in the Edinburgh derby, are mere blips after a run of 12 games unbeaten, 11 of them wins, all but ensured a third-place finish.

However, Rodgers' Celtic will travel along the M8 full of renewed confidence after Wednesday's 7-1 thrashing of Dundee just about wiped away talk of a crisis following a couple of draws in an otherwise 12-match unbeaten run that allowed city rivals Rangers to take over at the top.

With Rangers expected to gather another three points at home to Motherwell on Saturday, the pressure will be on Celtic to avoid falling further behind, but the odds and history remain in their favour.

Hearts have not beaten Celtic twice in one season since 2011-12 - once in league and then in Scottish Cup - with the last time they achieved a league double being 2006-07.

To do so, they will likely rely heavily on Lawrence Shankland, the Scotland striker's midweek equaliser bringing his total to 27 goals for the season and eight in his last seven games.

 

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