Celts know Heartbeat of title race is pulsing

IT MAY be politically correct for the supporters of the Old Firm clubs to pay their membership fees to football's chattering classes and so welcome the challenge being posed by Hearts.

You've heard the public lines time and again over the early weeks of the season: "Good for Scottish football; keeps the interest going; about time there was a real third force".

However, if not quite at breaking point, the elastic of this demeanour of sportsmanship is being seriously stretched. After all, when certainties are taken for granted and are delivered alongside the season tickets, goodwill does have a shelf life.

And so, there is an element of the bemused and baffled about those who get their kicks from watching trophies delivered by rote, as consistently as the pies and the Bovril, to the east end and south side of Glasgow.

Placed together with Hearts' recent win over Rangers at Tynecastle, Saturday's 1-1 draw with Celtic at Parkhead provided a marker for long-term intent.

Not since the early 1980s, when Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen and Jim McLean at Dundee United revealed their audacity and consistently questioned the established powers, have they been looking down the barrel of a smoking gun.

There is now real cause for alarm within the Old Firm support and the threat to their clubs' dominance, and it was provided by the essence of Hearts' resolve at the weekend.

It was one thing beating a troubled Rangers team over in Edinburgh, but the journey to Glasgow to confront Celtic before a 60,000 crowd would break their spirit - or so the

perceived wisdom had it.

Well, it remained intact and while, for the most part, statistics are but fools' gold in the football business, they tell you Hearts remain unbeaten and lead Celtic by three points - and Rangers by nine - at the top end of the SPL.

The Old Firm failed to deliver on opportunities to slap down the supposed upstarts, with Rangers managing just a no-score draw yesterday against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Sure, with the guts of 30 matches to play before the league season ends, there will be twists and turns and chances for the Old Firm to re-establish their authority at the top.

Only thing is, Hearts will take a bit of shifting, a point acknowledged by Gordon Strachan after he had witnessed his lot held, Craig Beattie scoring for Celtic in 31 minutes with Rudi Skacel equalising just three minutes later.

There is a pleasing level of honesty about the Celtic manager's analysis of games and of the potential of the season. His thoughts confirmed that he, and his players, are taking the threat posed by Hearts to be much more than a momentary blip in the status quo.

As he put it: "If you don't know your football, you won't take them seriously. But if you do, you will."

All of which more or less reflected the opinions of his counterpart George Burley. The organisation he has instilled in his side apart, the most significant factor of Hearts' rise in these early months has been displayed by their character.

"We came here without fear," Burley said. "To go on a run of 10 games undefeated underlines the strength of belief we have in ourselves - and it will continue."

The irony of this compelling contest was that the goals which allowed the teams a point apiece were rather scruffy affairs.

It was evident from the start that the match would be decided within the midfield and it was there Hearts held an advantage, with the excellent Paul Hartley controlling the flow of play against Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson, who had returned following suspension and injury respectively.

Yet, talents apart, this was a game that identified the most pleasing aspects of the game in Scotland, dwindling as they have been over many years.

There was terrific energy, genuine attention, and an overwhelming desire to win on the part of the two sides. Later, both Strachan and Burley confessed they had gone through a wringer of emotions but had enjoyed the experience.

On balance, Hearts were the more accomplished. When Beattie put Celtic ahead, taking advantage of a header by Lennon and a deflection from his shot by Julien Brellier, the home side looked to be in pole position to close the three-point gap.

Before they could establish any superiority, Hearts were level. Paul Telfer and Artur Boruc confused each other and Skacel took full advantage, getting up from his backside to his feet to score a goal that was testimony to Hearts' resilience.

When the managers and players examine the innuendos of this one they will recognise the challenge from the east is very real indeed. Though Rangers have Champions League business this midweek, they also will be aware of a new spirit within the SPL.

Quite simply, Hearts are not about to go away.


Taken from Evening Times