How Hearts can win the Premiership title vs Falkirk - and how Celtic can stop them and take it to final day

An enthralling Scottish Premiership title race will reach its conclusion this week as Derek McInnes’ Hearts look to break the 40-year Glasgow dominance of the top flight.

Just two games remain, with league leaders Hearts holding a slender one-point lead over Celtic, while third-place Rangers are now officially out of the running after their crushing 3-1 defeat by Martin O’Neill’s men on Sunday afternoon. A result which leaves only Celtic able to prevent the trophy from heading to Gorgie this season.

Hearts welcome sixth-placed Falkirk to Tynecastle this Wednesday for their final home match of the campaign, while Celtic face a tricky test away to a Motherwell side that has dented both Rangers and Hearts’ title ambitions over the last three weeks. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 8pm.

With neither side a clear favourite heading into the crucial final fixtures, we look at the scenarios that could see Hearts crowned champions this Wednesday night against Falkirk, and how Celtic can take the title race to the final day.

Here are all the permutations heading into the season finale:

Can Lawrence Shankland lead Hearts to their first title in 66 years? | SNS Group

When did Hearts last win the league title?

Hearts last won the Scottish league title 66 years ago, when they triumphed under manager Tommy Walker in the 1959/60 season. That season, the Tynecastle outfit finished four points ahead of Kilmarnock on 54 points. It marked their fourth top-flight league championship in their history, after wins in 1894/95, 1896/97, and 1957/58.

For those of a superstitious nature, Rangers finished third in that particular campaign, 12 points behind Hearts - a feat that the current team could mirror if results go in their favour.

What do Hearts need to do to win the league?

The simplest way for Hearts to confirm themselves as champions of the Scottish Premiership is by taking four points from their next two games. Currently a point ahead of Celtic, they would be unable to catch them if they take four of the six points available to themselves, with their final game coming away to Celtic on Saturday. Anything less than four points, and the door will be opened for Celtic to win a record 56th Scottish league title.

Can Hearts win the league on Wednesday vs Falkirk?

Yes, Hearts can win the league at Tynecastle this Wednesday with a victory against Falkirk. For the title celebrations to begin in Gorgie, though, that must also be coupled with a Celtic defeat to Motherwell on the same night. Should the Hoops fall to a defeat at Fir Park - and Hearts beat Falkirk - then there will be a four-point gap between the pair, meaning Celtic are unable to catch Hearts even with a final-day victory over them.

Should Hearts win, but Celtic draw with Motherwell, then it becomes more complex heading into the final day. This sequence of results would put the current league leaders three points clear with one game to go, meaning the title race remains alive until the final day clash between Celtic and Hearts at Parkhead.

Should this scenario take place, and Celtic beat Hearts on the final day of the season, the title would be decided on goal difference. At the time of writing, just three goals separate the sides (Hearts on +32, Celtic on +29), though this will widen in Hearts’ favour in this particular scenario.

Celtic talisman Daizen Maeda is hitting form at the perfect time for Martin O'Neill's side. | SNS Group

How can Celtic stop Hearts winning the league and take it to the final day?

This part is simple. Should Celtic win or draw against Motherwell, then the title race will go into the final day regardless of Hearts’ result against Falkirk on the same night. If Celtic lose at Fir Park, then Hearts can seal their crown as explained above.

The title race permutations for Celtic are as follows:

• Should Celtic win against Motherwell, and Hearts also beat Falkirk, then Celtic must beat Hearts on the final day to be crowned as champions.
• Should Celtic win against Motherwell and Hearts draw with Falkirk, then Celtic will go one point ahead of Hearts, meaning they’d require just a draw to be crowned as champions.
• Should Celtic win against Motherwell and Hearts lose to Falkirk, then Celtic will go two points ahead of Hearts, meaning they’d require just a draw to be crowned as champions on the final day.
• Should Celtic draw against Motherwell, and Hearts beat Falkirk, then Celtic must beat Hearts on the final day and overturn the goal difference, which is currently in favour of Hearts by three goals heading into the midweek fixtures.
• Should Celtic draw against Motherwell and Hearts also draw with Falkirk, then Celtic must beat Hearts on the final day to be crowned as champions.
• Should Celtic draw against Motherwell and Hearts lose to Falkirk, then Celtic will go level on points with Hearts. In this scenario, Celtic must defeat Hearts on the final day.
• Should Celtic lose against Motherwell and Hearts also lose to Falkirk, then Celtic must beat Hearts on the final day to be crowned as champions.
• Should Celtic lose against Motherwell and Hearts beat Falkirk, then Celtic are out of the title race heading into the final day.
• Should Celtic beat both Motherwell and Hearts on the final day of the season, they will be crowned as champions once again.

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