Hearts’ hopes of a first league title in 66 years were dramatically revived five minutes from time when Liam Gordon, who had only just entered the fray, fired home for Motherwell after a series of saves from Viljami Sinisalo. That equaliser in the Motherwell-Celtic clash was swiftly followed by a second piece of late drama, as Blair Spittal curled into the bottom corner to seal a commanding 3-0 victory for Hearts over Falkirk.
Late goals reshape the title race
The sequence of late goals transformed the evening for Hearts supporters watching two matches simultaneously. With Celtic leading Motherwell 2-1 and Hearts already 2-0 up against Falkirk through early goals from Frankie Kent and Cammy Devlin, the landscape shifted when Elliot Watt’s opener for Motherwell had been cancelled out by Celtic’s response. Gordon, a former Hearts player from 2013 to 2015, struck for the Steelmen after coming on as a substitute, glancing home after Sinisalo had repelled several earlier efforts. That made it 2-2 at Fir Park and, for a brief moment, looked set to hand Hearts a crucial advantage in the title fight.
But the pendulum swung again barely a minute later. At Tynecastle, Spittal collected the ball and curled a precise shot into the bottom corner, completing Hearts’ 3-0 rout of Falkirk. In Glasgow, meanwhile, Celtic were awarded a stoppage-time penalty that proved deeply controversial. The spot-kick was converted, giving the defending champions a 3-2 win over Motherwell and ensuring the title race would not be settled on the night.
The scores that matter
The results leave Hearts still one point clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with only one game remaining. Hearts’ victory over Falkirk — the newly promoted side who won the Championship last season — maintained their unbeaten home record at Tynecastle Park throughout the campaign. Celtic, meanwhile, stretched their winning streak to five league matches, thanks in no small part to that late penalty that has drawn criticism from pundits.
Context of a historic title chase
Hearts have led the table for most of the season under manager Derek McInnes, who has been credited with blending talent and steering the club towards its first top-flight title since 1960. Their talisman, Lawrence Shankland, has scored 15 league goals this term, including a decisive strike in the 2-1 win over Rangers on 4 May. Spittal, who joined Hearts in 2024 after two seasons at Motherwell where he netted 15 goals and won the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month award in February 2024, has also contributed vital goals.
The significance is not lost on either side. The last team outside Celtic and Rangers to win the Scottish title was Aberdeen in 1985. Hearts themselves came agonisingly close in 1986, losing the title on the final day at Dundee. Celtic are chasing a fourth consecutive league championship and their 55th overall. Martin O’Neill, the Celtic boss, knows the pain of a final-day defeat in a title race: his side lost the league at Motherwell in that earlier instance.
Final day decider
All roads now lead to Celtic Park next weekend, where Hearts and Celtic will meet in a winner-takes-all showdown. Hearts will clinch the title if they win or draw. If Hearts lose and Celtic win, Celtic go two points clear and could draw the final match to secure it. If both teams draw or lose their remaining fixtures, Hearts remain one point clear. The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to a season that has seen a two-horse race narrow to a single fixture, with Hearts’ late revival from Gordon and Spittal providing the prelude.
