Frankie Kent gave Hearts a vital opener against Falkirk, but the night ended in frustration as a controversial late penalty for Celtic dramatically altered the title race. Hearts players and supporters were left unsure how to react after sweeping Falkirk aside 3-0, only for news from Motherwell to change everything.
McInnes Fumes Over Penalty Decision
For eight minutes, with the game already at an end, Hearts were staring at the prospect of travelling to Celtic Park on Saturday needing only to avoid a three-goal defeat to win the league. However, deep in stoppage time at Motherwell, the awarding of a penalty to Celtic and subsequent conversion materially altered Hearts' position. Derek McInnes, the Hearts manager, was so enraged by the call that he labelled it 'disgusting'.
'I heard there was a 96th-minute penalty. I didn't need to ask who for,' McInnes said. 'I'm getting more and more dismayed at some of the decisions our referees are coming up with. It's such a bad decision. We're up against everybody.'
Title Race Goes to Final Day
Game 38 of 38 will see Hearts visit Celtic requiring a point to reach their holy grail. It felt unsatisfactory in respect of such a memorable season that everybody in maroon looked deflated as the dust settled. McInnes will look to channel anger he did nothing to hide. Hearts already carried disquiet over the curious non-award of a penalty during their own game in Motherwell on Saturday.
Last summer, had anyone offered Hearts supporters the prospect of needing to avoid defeat on the final day to win Scotland's Premiership, the response would have been emphatic. Hearts have not been champions since 1960, and Old Firm dominance has lasted four decades. Breaking both moulds had been portrayed as fanciful.
Match Action at Tynecastle
An almighty loss when this season ends will be the Tynecastle atmosphere, which was again at fever pitch before kick-off. Calvin Miller had the ball in the net for Falkirk inside five minutes, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. News that Motherwell had opened the scoring against Celtic ignited the home support.
Lawrence Shankland almost settled Hearts, but his deflected shot flew into the arms of Nicky Hogarth. The identity of the man to break the deadlock rather summed up a collective approach. Frankie Kent, who has spent much of this season as a back-up, rose unchallenged to bury a header from a Kyziridis corner.
A bogus message soon filled the stands that Motherwell had moved two ahead. Rather than await verification, the Hearts team took it upon themselves to do precisely that. Cammy Devlin found himself striding on to a loose ball 12 yards from the Falkirk goal and, with the aid of a deflection from Coll Donaldson, increased the Hearts lead.
Second Half Drama
Hearts were attacking with the conviction of champions-elect, but eyes turned towards Motherwell, where Celtic's equaliser changed the storyline once more. Hearts' task in the second half was to see out an unbeaten home league season. McInnes had made changes with Saturday clearly in mind.
Celtic's 2-1 lead endorsed McInnes's long-held theory that this championship would go the full distance. Motherwell equalised through Liam Gordon in the 83rd minute, and Blair Spittal curled home a superb Hearts third. Was fate smiling on Gorgie Road? An intervention from officialdom 40 miles away suggested not. Not yet, anyway.
