Scottish Premiership: This has been Heart of Midlothian's year - and they could win it all

There has been a constant in Scottish football for four decades: either Celtic or Rangers win the title.

Even when liquidated Rangers had to start again in the fourth division in 2012, Celtic was still always ending the season at the summit without a serious challenger.

Jeopardy had to be found elsewhere in the Premiership or down the leagues.

Not, finally, this most captivating of seasons. One group of players has led the way since September, but they are the gatecrashers from Edinburgh.

Whether Heart of Midlothian could hold on to the lead has been gripping for the game, agonising for Derek McInnes' side.

But they could leave Celtic Park this afternoon having broken up the duopoly.

The hope will be for a day about football, without rancour between fans or threats to referees.

With Hearts holding a one-point advantage, just avoiding defeat to Celtic will seal their first title since 1960, in a finale for the ages.

It has been so long since the trophy last ended the season outside Glasgow that the win was masterminded by pre-Manchester United Alex Ferguson with Aberdeen in 1985.

Hearts will not want a reminder of the following season, the last time they came within touching distance of glory, only to lose out to Celtic on the final day.

No wonder so many scoffed at betting tycoon Tony Bloom's claim last June on buying into Hearts that he could disrupt the dominance.

Not even he imagined it could happen this quickly, evoking memories of Leicester's 5,000-1 Premier League title upset a decade ago.

And it's happened without outspending Celtic and Rangers, albeit benefiting from an unusual season of simultaneous struggles for both of the Old Firm.

There has not even been enough time for Mr Bloom to fully implement the analytical expertise that has served Brighton so well in the Premier League.

Separated by a border, the financial disparities between the Premier League and Scottish Premiership are stark.

While buying 29% of Hearts cost Mr Bloom £9.86m, Brighton would be worth hundreds of millions. And while Brighton generated £222m last season, Hearts banked just £24.4m.

That Celtic were making almost £144m at the same time highlights the gulf within Scottish football, too.

There are Celtic and Rangers with 55 championships apiece, followed in the roll of honour by Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibernian in joint third with only four titles each.

So today is about providing hope to fans - just as Leicester did - that one day it might finally come good for your team and you'll be the ones with the parade.

Fans will also reflect on the journey and the torment.

The chance to be crowned champions of Scotland would have seemed unimaginable 12 years ago when just surviving as a club was the priority.

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"Can we keep ripping the script up?" Mr McInnes wondered on the eve of the trip to Celtic. "We have ripped the script up this season and I think from the first game of the season, nobody would have anticipated that we could be in this position."

It's why Hearts go to Celtic bullish, with belief this will be their day, their time to show you do not have to be weighed down by the baggage of expectation that a Scottish season begins with one question: will it be the year of Celtic or Rangers?

This has been Heart of Midlothian's year, even before any silverware is handed out.

(c) Sky News 2026: Scottish Premiership: This has been Heart of Midlothian's year - and they could win it all