Are Celtic & Rangers Starting To Click In Pursuit Of Hearts?

Heart of Midlothian stay unbeaten astatine nan apical of nan Scottish Premiership but person dropped points successful 2 of their past 3 outings.

Celtic and Rangers person each enjoyed maximum hauls since nan appointments of Martin O'Neill and Danny Rohl.

Both men are conscionable successful nan door, while 1 is an interim stand-in, and location person been Old Firm disappointments successful Europe, but is nan dial showing signs of shifting domestically?

Hearts are 7 points successful beforehand of Celtic and 12 amended disconnected than Rangers, pinch nan Glasgow duo each having a crippled successful hand.

When O'Neill took impermanent complaint of Celtic past month, he walked into a nine rocked by soul division, highlighted by nan acrimonious quality of Brendan Rodgers' exit.

Hearts had beaten Celtic 3-1 astatine Tynecastle to spell 8 points clear, pinch nan 73-year-old parachuted successful to dependable nan ship.

Although they were comprehensively outplayed by Midtjylland connected Thursday, O'Neill has delivered connected nan location front, winning each 3 of his matches, narrowing nan convention spread and reaching nan Premier Sports Cup last astatine Rangers' expense.

Celtic's onslaught has been freed up nether nan Northern Irishman, pinch 11 goals scored successful those games.

The champions had managed to people conscionable 10 successful nan last 7 home matches nether Rodgers, pinch 4 of them coming successful a League Cup triumph complete Partick Thistle.

O'Neill praised nan quality of Celtic's 4-0 triumph complete Kilmarnock connected Sunday, but stressed they still person plentifulness of activity to do if they are to take sides their title.

"There were immoderate parts of nan capacity I was perfectly delighted with," he said. "We defended strongly.

"You do request thief erstwhile you're chasing someone, but there's a agelong measurement to go."

On his ain future, O'Neill continued to springiness thing away, claiming he does not cognize if he will beryllium successful complaint astatine St Mirren successful 2 weeks' time.

If triumph complete Kilmarnock does beryllium to beryllium nan last lucifer of his 2nd spell astatine nan club, he says he will gladly judge that.

"I'll return a small clip successful nan world break, astir of our players will beryllium away, and location will beryllium clip of soul reflection," he said. "It's been a whirlwind of a fortnight, I can't judge it's really happened.

"I genuinely don't cognize [if I'll beryllium backmost successful 2 weeks]. If nan committee dress up their mind, it's perfectly good by me."

Rangers' Premiership points tally has doubled since Danny Rohl arrived.

Three convention games, 3 wins, 7 goals scored pinch conscionable 1 conceded.

Two cleanable sheets connected nan roadworthy aft a nine grounds tally of 23 without 1 successful each competitions.

Supporters sung nan German's sanction pinch gusto aft Sunday's 3-0 triumph astatine Dundee and Rohl is eager to fortify nan early bond.

"I spot a batch of togetherness much and more," nan 36-year-old enthused.

"I person awesome support from my unit and my coaches, and nan players are listening. If we tin bring this together pinch our fans, past we are each going successful 1 guidance and we tin build thing here."

Rangers were a muddle of impotent passing for passing's liking nether predecessor Russell Martin but Rohl's messaging appears much pragmatic.

There is greater accent connected getting nan shot into nan last 3rd quickly, pinch players consenting to spell long.

A wished show astatine Easter Road showed that Rangers tin excavation successful and protect a lead too.

The semi-final conclusion to Celtic successful extra-time was gritty and Rohl's tactical nous meant his broadside created bully chances erstwhile playing nan mostly of nan lucifer pinch 10 men.

On his promising convention start, Rohl added: "I deliberation this is huge, arsenic is keeping cleanable sheets. That's helpful.

"We cognize our expectations are high. We want to do much but it takes steps and I deliberation it's important to understand that aft wins, we are not consecutive up successful 1 guidance and aft we suffer it's successful different direction.

"We request to person a bully balance. At nan infinitesimal I spot guardant steps, moreover if everything is not perfect."

Hearts whitethorn person seen their lead reduced, but are yet to suffer a convention crippled and tin constituent to bully wins against nan Old Firm.

Both of O'Neill's Premiership matches person been astatine location and sterner tests than Falkirk and Kilmarnock await.

Rangers had to trust connected a punishment prevention and Hibs missing a close-range sitter to time off EH7 pinch a 1-0 win.

We besides witnessed Brann and Roma expose Rohl's defence successful nan aforesaid sadistic manner Midtjylland dismantled Celtic.

Hearts recreation to Aberdeen and Motherwell adjacent but don't person a European fixture successful betwixt for illustration their rivals.

Rangers are a agelong measurement backmost and way Hibs connected extremity difference, but will beryllium large favourites to triumph their impending games astatine location to promoted duo Livingston and Falkirk.

Celtic's adjacent 2 assignments are trickier, distant to St Mirren and Hibs. If they travel done those unscathed, past nan title could good beryllium person travel 7 December erstwhile Hearts sojourn Celtic Park.