By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Shaun Maloney admits Hearts deserve to take second place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League following their 3-0 thrashing of Celtic.

Hearts and Rangers are still battling for the runners-up spot and the opportunity to join Celtic in the Champions League next season.

Rangers had hoped their Edinburgh rivals would crack under the pressure after their win over Kilmarnock on Saturday allowed them to close the gap between the two clubs to just one point.

But the Jambos showed their determination by handing out a convincing defeat to the Scottish champions.

They now look set to hold onto their lofty position in the SPL and Hoops star Maloney believes no-one can have any complaints if they do following an impressive season.

But the Celtic striker insists Rangers also deserve credit for their efforts this term after becoming the first Scottish club to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, before losing out on a place in the quarter-finals on away goals to Villarreal.

"If Hearts do finish second, then they deserve it," said Maloney.

"Rangers showed how well they did this year in the Champions League and they have shown the way for us a little bit.

"Hopefully we will be trying to do that next year and I'm sure Hearts will be the same if they do finish second."

The conspiracy theorists claimed Celtic would field a weakened team at Tynecastle in a bid to prevent Old Firm rivals Rangers from joining them in the Champions League next season.

But Maloney rubbished suggestions that Celtic were not interested in winning Sunday's game.

He added: "We're very disappointed but, if we're honest, the team who wanted it more won the game.

"Unfortunately, we were on the wrong end of that result.

"But the main thing is that we have won the league this year and whatever happens between second and third place has got nothing to do with us.

"We went out there wanting to win and unfortunately we didn't do that."

Maloney became the first ever player to be named both Player and Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals at an awards ceremony at Glasgow's Thistle hotel last night.

He fought back from a serious knee injury the previous season to produce some superb displays for Celtic this term and beamed: "It's been my best season by a mile.

"I had a tough time last year because I was injured for most of it but this season has been a top season."

Taken from sportinglife.com