For the first time, Celtic and Rangers have changed their manager in the same season. Does that open the door for Hearts to take the title?
Martin O’Neill has returned to Parkhead to take interim charge following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation after defeat at Hearts left them eight points behind in the title race.
Are things on the up at Rangers after they secured their first home win in the Premiership this season?
Wednesday 29th October 6:45pm
Kick off 7:45pm
It is another big week – Hearts head to St Mirren looking to maintain their unbeaten start, managerless Celtic face Falkirk trying to avoid a third straight Premiership defeat and Rangers could be back in the title race with a win at Hibs, live on Sky Sports.
While Derek McInnes has a team who are confident and united, O’Neill has to try and get the best from a depleted side. Danny Röhl is at the start of his journey with Rangers, who may have found some much-needed direction.
Rodgers quits, O’Neill returns, win needed
O’Neill is back at Celtic 25 years after he was first appointed as the club wasted no time in replacing “divisive” Rodgers following his resignation.
The club is in turmoil amid accusations from major shareholder Dermot Desmond of “divisive, misleading, and self-serving” behaviour from Rodgers, but the immediate focus for the players has to be beating Falkirk on Wednesday night.
Celtic are in the unfamiliar position of being chasers – they have lost back-to-back league games for the first time in two years. In fact, the most they have managed to win in a row this season is three.
Rodgers was accused of not getting the best from his players in recent weeks, but will O’Neill fare any better after just a few days?
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Watch highlights from the Scottish Premiership match between Hearts and Celtic
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Kelechi Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda were unavailable for Sunday’s defeat at Hearts, with the inexperienced Johnny Kenny starting with academy players Dane Murray and Colby Donovan.
Record signing Arne Engels, who probably cost more than Hearts’ starting XI, did play along with the experience of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Kasper Schmeichel, Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney.
Summer signings Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren also started. McGregor scored, the rest floundered.
Sky Sports’ Kris Boyd pointed to the struggles at full-time at Tynecastle Park: “But you’ve now got to look at it and say, Callum McGregor, OK, but he’s been off it for a while. Why is he not getting the best out of Engels? Why is he not getting the best out of Reo Hatate? Why does Kieran Tierney look absolutely miles off it?
Sebastian Tounekti’s only goal was against championship side Partick Thistle in the League Cup
“Tounekti’s come in and had rave reviews. He’s had one goal against Partick Thistle in nine games. No assists, one goal.
“It’s always been pointed at the board and everything else, that’s been a distraction as well. So today’s another deflection.”
Rodgers always insisted he would see out his three-year deal when he returned to Parkhead, but he hasn’t. Nothing but a win against Falkirk will do for Celtic as they begin life without Brendan Rodgers, again.
The McInnes factor at Hearts
Tony Bloom made a bold title-winning prediction after investing in Hearts, but the impact Derek McInnes has made cannot be ignored.
He also arrived in the summer and wanted to immediately lead the club back to the top six and European football.
Eight wins and one draw is probably more than even the club’s most optimistic fan would have expected from their first nine games – but the belief they could be the first non-Old Firm side to win the title in 40 years is continuing to grow.
“We speak about Celtic and Rangers and the problems are that it’s fragmented. Both clubs are fragmented. There are problems everywhere,” former Scotland striker James McFadden said on Sky Sports.
“Hearts are streamlined. They’re all in unison and you can see that on the pitch. Claudio Braga had a song about him, Lawrence Shankland has a song, Tony Bloom had a song sung about him.
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Hearts manager Derek McInnes gives his reaction to his side’s impressive 3-1 victory over Celtic as Hearts extend the gap further at the top of the table
“Derek McInnes, for me, deserves a huge amount of credit and the people at the top of the club, all the way down, the connection is there.”
Hearts are now in partnership with the same Jamestown Analytics data firm that has underpinned the success Bloom has enjoyed in establishing his beloved Brighton in the Premier League and as a shareholder at now Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise.
The recruitment tool helped in the signing of 10 new players over the summer, including Claudio Braga and Alex Kyziridis but McInnes appears to be getting other players back to their best.
Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland scored to make it 3-1 against Celtic
Striker Lawrence Shankland was out of contract, but opted to stay and has already scored five goals in the Premiership. Last season, his total was eight.
There is also Craig Halkett. The centre-back struggled with injury last season, only managing 17 league appearances.
He has started every game this season and has scored three times in the league – that’s equal to his total for the previous five seasons at Hearts.
Can Röhl rejuvenate Rangers?
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Watch highlights from the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Kilmarnock
Danny Röhl’s first domestic game in charge ended with Rangers’ first home league win of the season, and £10m summer signing Youssef Chermiti scored his first goal for the Ibrox side.
Yes, it is only one victory in what’s been a dismal season so far, but there was far more energy in the team as the full-time jeers changed to cheers.
The 36-year-old said after the defeat to Brann that he “learnt a lot about individual profiles” as he vowed to “find quick solutions” and he was not scared to make changes.
Bojan Miovski and Danilo returned to the starting XI as Röhl opted for two strikers rather than one frontman with two attackers playing wide.
The shape did change throughout the game as Rangers showed some much-needed flexibility.
Chermiti has faced criticism given his price tag. Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell insisted he saw “huge potential” and backed the new head coach to “help to get the best out of Youssef.”
The 21-year-old looked a threat when he came on, and his first senior goal since 2023 will certainly have eased some of the pressure on him.
Youssef Chermiti celebrates scoring his first Rangers goal
Next up is a trip to Easter Road on Wednesday night to face Hibernian, live on Sky Sports. Another win would take them above their opponents and potentially as high as third.
Then it is an Old Firm clash against Celtic in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park next Sunday.
If the German leads Rangers to three straight wins, they could be back in a title race and one game from winning a trophy.
A huge week that could change the whole complexion of their season.
