How are leaders Hearts handling title pressure?Image source, SNSImage caption, Hearts are being chased by Rangers and CelticByThomas DuncanBBC Sport ScotlandPublished1 hour agoWhen a team are seeking to end a long wait for a league title, it would be fair to expect some angst.Just ask Arsenal, who have stumbled recently in their quest for a first Premier League title in two decades.Hearts, who have not won the Scottish top-flight since 1960, outwardly at least, appear to be wearing their shot at history more lightly.Derek McInnes’ side are just back from a week in Spain as they gear up for the final five games, when the top half of the table all face each other.They only have a one-point advantage to protect in a three-way fight with Rangers and Celtic, who are three off the pace, but are intent on embracing the pressure.”There’s a lot of humour and enjoyment with this – it’s got to be, football isn’t always easy,” McInnes stated.”When you’re in and around it, it feels as if we’re just enjoying our work.”We want to enjoy it, but there’s a serious part to it in the sense that we’re all well aware now that we’ve come this far, put a lot into this season. “And like anything, any race or any competition, it’s how you finish the season normally that matters.”Why Hearts are relishing the challengeBeing in this unexpected position brings a certain sense of freedom for Hearts.If they do not win the title there will be huge disappointment and the feeling of a rare opportunity missed. That would sting badly.But with perspective, it can be put down as a strong season regardless – given a year ago they were in the bottom half of the table and nobody expected them to be in this position.They are just at the start of the McInnes era, backed by Tony Bloom and his data analytics company.”Seventy points is a great number to get into the split – I think it’s the first time Hearts have done that,” McInnes stated.”The first team outwith Rangers and Celtic to get to the split top of the league.”The players have done so well to get us here. We just want to try and enjoy it and finish off the job.”What also gives Hearts belief is their record against the top-six this season, which is the best in the league.They have taken 33 points from their 15 games against the five teams closest to them, eight more than Rangers and 11 more than Celtic against the same opposition.They lost 4-2 at Ibrox, but have defeated the Glasgow sides twice each already in this campaign.In that respect, there is nothing to fear for Hearts.What does the form say?While those elements all give Hearts confidence, the team who arrives into the final five games in the best form is Rangers.In the last 12 games, Danny Rohl’s side have taken five more points than Hearts and are just one behind in second place.Martin O’Neill’s Celtic have gathered three more than Hearts over the same period, and the league leaders have suffered three of their five losses this term in those last 12 matches.Hearts’ performances have dropped slightly in the second half of the season, which is why Rangers and Celtic have slowly closed the gap despite their own flaws.Undoubtedly the absence of striker, joint top scorer, and captain Lawrence Shankland from January until late March has affected that, as well as influential midfielder Cammy Devlin for a similar period.Midfielders Oisin McEntee and Tomas Magnussen missing the rest of the campaign is a blow, but left-back Harry Milne is due back soon and centre-back Stuart Findlay made his comeback against Motherwell.
Rangers have the form. Celtic, meanwhile, have the most experience of winning the league in their squad and dugout, which the Hearts boss believes is a factor, if far from being critical.
“It doesn’t give them any guarantees, but it certainly does help them,” he stated.
“I don’t get caught up in that too much, to be honest. Really, it’s performances and just getting results and getting them any way you can at this stage.
“I understand that [narrative], but I actually don’t think in the cold light of day it’s the most important thing.”
