Celtic 3, Hearts 1: Instant reaction to the burning issues

Hopes were high they could claim the result they required and finish first in the top flight among the 752-strong travelling support who were crammed in to the corner of the ground between the Main Stand and the Lisbon Lions Stand.

Derek McInnes’s charges, who held a narrow one point advantage over their nearest challengers after 37 fixtures, were undefeated against their opponents in the 2025/26 campaign and were on a seven match unbeaten run.

They took the lead just before half-time when Lawrence Shankland scored at a Stephen Kingsley corner - but promptly conceded Arne Engels penalty in added on time.

They withstood intense pressure in the second half and only lost to Martin O'Neill's men after Daizen Maeda had netted with two minutes remaining and Callum Osmand had scored in the eighth and final minute of injury time.

Hearts suffered unimaginable heartbreak back in 1986 when they crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park and allowed Celtic to leapfrog them into top spot on the last day when a draw was all they needed to clinch the title.

This devastating denouement must have felt even worse for their longsuffering followers. It was beyond cruel. They were minutes from glory. Insult was added to injury when their players were accosted by fans during a pitch invasion at the death.

Bitterness about the refereeing decisions which have gone against them and for Celtic – not least the 96th minute spot kick which their rivals were given on Wednesday evening after a VAR check – in the last week will linger down Gorgie way for some time to come.

If the Motherwell game had finished 2-2 then Hearts would have, despite the 3-1 reverse, been crowned champions.

That the SPFL scheduled them to play their last game against Callum McGregor and his team mates away from home will also not be forgotten quickly by many.

The eyes of the world were on Scottish football as the top two teams in the elite division went head to head for the title on the last day for the first occasion since Aberdeen took on Rangers at Ibrox way back in 1991. The spectacle did not disappoint. But the ugly scenes at the end left a sour taste.  

Here are five talking points from an incredible day.  

Savvy Hearts

McInnes sprung a major surprise with his team selection. Claudio Braga, who has been named Premiership, PFA Scotland and Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year in recent days, was left on the bench. But the Portuguese forward had, his manager revealed, a slight groin issue.

His place up front in a 4-4-2 formation was taken by Pierre Landry Kabore. Elsewhere, Stephen Kingsley and Jordi Altena came in in defence and midfield respectively as Frankie Kent and Blair Spittal dropped out.  

The visitors kept their cool despite the huge pressure that was on their shoulders and probably, without creating and scoring opportunities, enjoyed the best of the nervous opening exchanges. They certainly contained the hosts well and silenced the crowd considerably.  

Michael Steinwender and Altena both required medical attention after suffering early knocks. But they dusted themselves down and continued. It was going to take a serious knock to force anyone from the field in this one.

It took over half an hour for a player to get an attempt on target. When Sebastian Tounekti finally did so his shot lacked power and was easily gathered by Alexander Schwolow. But his effort drew a huge cheer from a home support whose anxiety was increasing with every passing minute.  

Shanks for the memory

Hearts deserved to take the lead two minutes before half-time when Kingsley swung a corner in to the Celtic six yard box. Shankland ghosted in and bulleted a powerful header into the net. Cue absolute delirium at the other end of the park.

O’Neill was furious that none of his players had picked up the striker. The Scotland internationalist had been on target 20 times for club and country in the 2025/26 campaign. They should have made marking him their priority. It was criminally soft goal to concede.

Ref watch

It was impossible not to have sympathy for referee Don Robertson and VAR observers Kevin Clancy and Matthew MacDermid today following days of acrimony and outrage over than John Beaton penalty call at Fir Park.

The match officials must have said a quiet prayer in their dressing room before kick-off. Another contentious late ruling like the one their colleague was forced to make was the very last thing that any of them needed.   

Robertson, Clancy and MacDermid were called upon to make a big decision in added on time at the end of the first half when Alexandros Kyziridis handled a Kieran Tierney cross into his area.

Robertson pointed straight to the spot and replays proved conclusively he was right.  Engels, who had, along with McGregor and Benjamin Nygren, struggled to make his presence felt up until that point, stepped forward and converted.

The Belgian was, however, a touch fortunate. Schwolow guessed the right way and the ball squirmed under his body. Still, the equaliser lifted Celtic at a crucial stage in proceedings.

Second half subs

O’Neill had to make a change at half-time and he duly did so. He hooked the ineffectual Tounekti, put on Kelechi Iheanacho up front and moved Daizen Maeda out to the left flank.

McInnes responded by taking off Altena and pitching Kent in to the fray and Hearts, despite Beni Baningime then limping off injured and being replaced by Spittal, continued to impress.   

Yang Hyn-jun, who had struggled to get the better of Kingsley, made way for Forrest after an hourr. Could the most decorated player in the history of the Scottish game give Celtic the creative spark they were so badly lacking in the final third?

Braga came on for Cabore, Allan Forrest, the brother of James, took over from Kyziridis, and Islam Chesnokov replaced Harry Milne. Their arrival on the field resulted in a timely lift in energy levels.

O’Neill went for broke as the clock ticked down by taking off Auston Trusty and Tierney, throwing on Marcelo Saracchi and Osmand, who made his return from a lengthy injury- lay-off, and going to a back three. That left his side with just one specialist centre-half, Liam Scales.  

When Cammy Devlin fouled Engels just outside his box the midfielder had a chance to put Celtic ahead. He failed to find the target. Iheanacho then turned Kent, beat Schwolow and hit the left post. The Hearts keeper tipped a goal-bound Nygren shot over. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

Late, late show

Maeda turned an Osmand cross beyond the Schwolow with just two minutes of regulation time remaining. The strike was flagged for offside and it was back to Clancy and MacDermid over at Clydesdale House. After an interminable wait, they decided the goal should stand.

Osmand added, after Schwolow had gone upfield to help snatch a leveller, another in the eighth minute of injury-time to spark a mass pitch invasion. There were regrettable flashpoints as Hearts players were confronted by fans. But Celtic were champions again.  

O’Neill, called out of retirement when Brendan Rodgers departed in October and then drafted in again in January after the ill-advised Wilfried Nancy experiment had failed, is likely to depart following the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline at Hampden next weekend.

If this is to be the Northern Irishman’s last game at Parkhead then it was some way for him to bow out. He celebrated his fourth Scottish title win when Robertson blew his final whistle. His legendary status is assured.