Celtic v Hearts preview: four defeats in five test O’Neill

Celtic have lost four of their last five matches, yet victory over Hearts on Sunday would leave them four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers’ 2–2 draw at Dundee has handed Martin O’Neill an opportunity to strengthen Celtic’s position after another difficult European night. Hearts, though, can leave the top three separated by just two points if they win at Celtic Park.

That makes this more than a reunion with the opponents Celtic beat to secure last season’s title. Both sides have a chance to change the direction of the race.

Celtic v Hearts preview: the league table tells a different story

Celtic’s domestic record remains strong: seven wins from eight league matches, with 16 goals scored and four conceded.

Their recent results across all competitions paint a much less reassuring picture. The 2–0 win at Motherwell is their only victory in five outings, a sequence containing two defeats by Rangers and European losses to Ferencvaros and Benfica.

O’Neill described the second-half performance in Lisbon as “really terrific”, pointing to the chances Celtic created after the break. But they were already three goals behind, and the eventual 4–1 defeat by Benfica left them without a point from two Europa League games.

Sunday therefore tests whether Celtic can impose the control that has usually served them well in the Premiership against a particularly dangerous domestic attack.

What Rangers’ draw changes

The SPFL table leaves Celtic on 21 points, Rangers on 20 and Hearts on 16.

Our calculations show the possible positions after Sunday’s match:

Result	Celtic points	Rangers points	Hearts points
Celtic win	24	20	16
Draw	22	20	17
Hearts win	21	20	19

All three clubs will then have played nine league matches.

Hearts have reasons to look forward

Hearts return to Parkhead for the first time since May’s 3–1 defeat, when late goals from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand settled the title.

Wouter Vrancken, who succeeded Derek McInnes during the summer, has urged his players to concentrate on the present.

“You cannot live in the past,” he said ahead of the return.

There is substance behind that message. Hearts have scored a division-high 19 league goals, with James Wilson, Claudio Braga, Josh McPake and Calvin Miller contributing 12 between them. Their last Premiership outing brought a 5–0 win over St Mirren.

Thursday’s 1–1 draw with Nordsjaelland also showed the importance of taking their opportunities. Hearts led through Oisin McEntee but failed to establish a bigger advantage before conceding late.

As we explored in our coverage of Tony Bloom’s Hearts title ambition, the club’s aspirations have survived the disappointment of last season.

The battle that could decide it

Celtic’s attacking ambition needs protection behind the ball.

Hearts have several players capable of supplying goals, which makes it difficult to concentrate defensive attention on one forward. If Celtic commit players ahead of possession and leave their centre-backs exposed, the visitors have enough options to exploit the space.

For Hearts, the challenge is sustaining that threat without allowing Celtic to build prolonged pressure. Both teams played on Thursday, so the effectiveness of their substitutions could become significant as the game develops.

Celtic and Hearts team news

Cameron Carter-Vickers is out. O’Neill’s latest update rules the defender out of the Hearts match, with next weekend’s visit to Hibernian identified as his earliest possible return. That supersedes earlier reports describing him as doubtful.

Yang Hyun-jun remains unavailable, while Alistair Johnston’s recovery from a hamstring problem leaves his involvement uncertain. Jota is available after his comeback at Motherwell; his absence against Benfica was down to European registration. Osmand is also available after returning in Lisbon.

Hearts are without Ageu, who suffered a muscle injury in training. Blair Spittal and Tom Renaud remain sidelined with ankle problems, while Craig Halkett is recovering from an Achilles injury.

Kick-off time and how to watch

Celtic v Hearts kicks off at 3pm BST on Sunday 18 October at Celtic Park.

Coverage begins at 2.30pm on Sky Sports Football. David Dickinson is the referee, with Chris Graham on VAR.

Our Celtic v Hearts TV guide has the viewing details.

Dave.Sport prediction: Celtic 2–1 Hearts

Celtic’s league record and home advantage give them a narrow edge. Hearts have the attacking quality to make their defensive absences matter, but the hosts’ returning options offer O’Neill ways to change the game.

Our pick is a close Celtic victory that improves their league position while leaving some questions from Europe unanswered.