Hearts Aim to Prove Title Credentials at Celtic Park

Hearts are set to face Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday, aiming to prove their title credentials in a fixture that holds significant weight after their previous visit ended in a crushing title-race defeat. "I'm convinced the players will be focused on the game on Sunday and not in the past," stated Hearts manager Steven Vrancken, urging his team to embrace positive energy.

Last season, Hearts saw their title aspirations falter at Celtic Park, a memory Vrancken's side is keen to move beyond. "You can't live in the past. You have to move forward and look forward, and you have to take on the next one," he added. He emphasized that the team's competitive drive should be present in every match, particularly in high-stakes games.

Oisin McEntee, a member of last season's squad, echoed the sentiment that the trip is not a revenge mission. He recently scored Hearts' opening goal in their UEFA Conference League campaign opener, a 1-1 draw against Nordsjaelland. The team has shown resilience, with five victories and a draw in their last seven matches under Vrancken, a significant improvement after a challenging start to his tenure. However, their away league form has been inconsistent, with only two wins in their last 11 away matches and a failure to keep a clean sheet during that period.

Celtic, despite facing fan-board unrest and a recent dip in form, remain strong contenders in the league. They have secured victory in 14 of their last 15 league games, scoring two or more goals in 11 of those contests. A win on Sunday would extend their lead at the top of the table to four points, following Rangers' draw. While Celtic boasts a dominant home record against Hearts, having won 26 of their last 29 league encounters at Celtic Park, they have suffered two defeats in their last six home games.

Last season, Hearts proved to be a formidable opponent for Celtic in league play, accumulating seven points from four matches against them. This was the most points secured by a non-Old Firm side against Celtic in a single campaign since the 1999-00 season. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill anticipates Sunday's match will be as challenging as their dramatic title decider last May. "I think it will be every bit as tough as it was on the last day of last season," O'Neill remarked, and he views Hearts as genuine title challengers this season, despite their two league losses.