Heart of Midlothian

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  1. Celtic title win 'will put fear into clubs'published at 10:38 BST 18 May

    Celtic players celebrating with the Scottish Premiership trophyImage source, SNS

    Celtic's last-day Scottish Premiership title could put "more fear" into opposition clubs, believes former striker Cillian Sheridan.

    The defending champions, who lost eight league games and had three different managers this season, trailed Hearts for a long period before finally pipping them to the post with victory in Saturday's dramatic decider at Celtic Park.

    "I feel like it's going to put a little bit, maybe more fear into other clubs as well, going forward where they've went and lost eight games, they've had all that turbulence going on, and yet they still managed to come through and win," said Sheridan, who scored four goals in 19 Celtic appearances.

    "And the Hearts players who went through it for the first time, might look at that and be like, OK, there is other parts to it. It's not just going out and playing well. There's a lot more to actually winning. That's something that's not a tangible thing that you can see. It's just kind of, I guess, something that's just there and you can build it up over time."

    However, Sheridan added of runners-up Hearts: "It's probably going to benefit in the long run once the dust settles and they get over the disappointment of it.

    "They'll probably have a little bit more belief that maybe it was there for us, like we could have done it. And then you'd hope from their point of view that it gives them that motivation to go again next season."

    More from Sheridan on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

  2. McInnes & Braga on Hearts ambitions - gossippublished at 07:44 BST 18 May

    Gossip graphic

    Hearts manager Derek McInnes encourages his side to use the disappointment of missing out on the Scottish Premiership to fuel next season's ambitions. (Sun), external

    Meanwhile, forward Claudio Braga says Hearts will be ready to challenge again. (Sun), external

    Monday's Scottish gossip

  3. 'Heaven to hell' for Kyziridispublished at 21:54 BST 17 May

    Kyziridis Image source, SNS

    Hearts winger Alexandros Kyziridis said his side went from "heaven to hell in 90 minutes" after Celtic snatched what would have been a first league title in 66 years from the Edinburgh club's grasp.

    The fallout from Saturday's title decider rumbles on after Celtic fans spilled on to the pitch following the final goal of their side's 3-1 win before confronting Hearts players in chaotic scenes.

    Police Scotland vowed "robust and swift" action against anybody found to have committed criminality.

    Kyziridis had been one of Hearts' star players as they came within minutes of a draw that would have ended a 41-year wait for a team other than Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers to win the Scottish title.

    "From heaven to hell in 90 minutes. A story I will remember for the rest of my life, even though it didn't have a happy ending," the Greek posted on Instagram.

    "I promise you this was only the beginning, and next year we will try again to achieve the best possible result."

  4. 'Hearts will come back stronger'published at 20:43 BST 17 May

    Media caption,

    'Hearts will come back stronger'

    Sportscene pundits Ryan Stevenson and Darren O'Dea expect Hearts to use their title heartbreak as fuel for next season and beyond.

  5. 'Unacceptable for fans on pitch to intimidate players'published at 13:50 BST 17 May

    Media caption,

    Celtic fans' pitch invasion 'totally unacceptable'

    Sportscene pundits Darren O'Dea and Ryan Stevenson on the "unacceptable" post-match pitch invasion from home fans that marred Celtic's title-winning 2-1 victory over Hearts.

  6. 'Hearts will be back' - fans defiant after title agonypublished at 12:32 BST 17 May

    Your opinions

    Hearts fans, we asked for your opinions after the devastating 3-1 loss to Celtic that meant the league title stayed in Glasgow for another year.

    Here's a taste of what you had to say.

    Harry: While gutting, the boys can be proud of what they did today. Celtic's title celebrations briefly cover the cracks unveiled by Hearts - that the Old Firm's dominance is over.

    Colin: Gut-wrenching to lose the game and title in that fashion. But let's be proud of this team and how they performed this season. Hopefully we can be up there challenging in the next few seasons. Well done to all the players and staff on an unbelievable season.

    Chris: I thought the referee had a good game which allowed the game to be settled on the field which is all we wanted - and we came up short.

    More injuries but I thought first half our tactics were incredible. Finished the game with too many defensive players which meant we couldn't react to going behind.

    Tom: Hearts will be back. When you look at the state of Celtic and Rangers behind the scenes, Hearts are by far the most stable club of the three. They have a great squad with experienced players and an incredible manager. Celtic need to appoint someone who will no doubt rebuild the squad, and how much time will Danny Rohl be given? There's no reason to say why Hearts can't challenge again next year.

    Stephen: Proud of the team. The achievements of the season have to be admired from afar given the financial gulf they are competing against. Disappointed with how it ended though, those players deserved to be clapped of the pitch by their fans, but weren't able to due to the horrible scenes at the end.

    Anderson: First-half tactics were spot on, Pierre Landry Kabore played his best game in a Hearts jersey. Second half, too defensive and coupled with injuries we looked vulnerable. We didn't do enough on the day but the blueprint is there. In Tony Bloom we trust.

    Alan: This season has been a triumph for Heart of Midlothian. To be top for 250 days with the style of football we've played and the way the club has conducted itself is something we can all be incredibly proud of.

    We would always prefer to win on merit alone, but we all saw the key decisions and admitted errors along the way that undeniably altered the course of the title race. Regardless, we fought until the final second. We hold our heads high.

  7. Hearts' teary Tynecastle returnpublished at 18:25 BST 16 May

    Jamie McCartImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The Hearts players are greeted by supporters as they return to Tynecastle after defeat at Celtic

    Alexandros KyziridisImage source, PA Media
    Frankie KentImage source, PA Media
    Stuart FindlayImage source, PA Media
  8. Celtic 3-1 Hearts: Have your saypublished at 15:57 BST 16 May

    Have your say graphic banner

    Celtic came from behind in an astonishing finale to beat long-time Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and deny them a first league title since 1960 - while securing their fifth title in a row after a miraculous season.

    Read the full match report here

    Have your say on the game via this link

  9. 'Worst Hearts team you will see in the next 10 years'published at 15:56 BST 16 May

    Hearts players celebrateImage source, SNS

    Ryan Stevenson on BBC Sportsound:

    "Hearts have had a taste of this. It will hurt, absolutely. You imagine they will sit on that bus and it will be really quiet.

    "And, as the days and the weeks pass, it will sink in just how special this season has been.

    "The fans will be crushed, but everyone - fans, board, players, manager is unified.

    "It is a massive job for Celtic and Rangers to sort their problems and so I don't think it will be as easy, but I am so proud of them."

    Allan Preston on BBC Sportsound

    "Tony Bloom came in last year and everybody ridiculed and laughed saying he has come here to disrupt.

    "It is only a year and they've done it.

    "Hearts finishing second - nobody predicted that after they finished seventh last year - and I'm sure they'll get better.

    "This might be the worst Hearts team you will see in the next 10 years.

    "Hearts have the best man at the helm. Derek [McInnes] will dust himself down and will go again."

  10. 'Title win would mean the world to us' - Devlinpublished at 19:05 BST 15 May

    Cammy DevlinImage source, SNS

    "I just want to do it so badly. It would mean everything to so many people."

    If Saturday at Celtic Park is to be Cammy Devlin's final game in a Hearts shirt, the midfielder would like nothing more than making it a title-winning occasion.

    The Australian midfielder has spent the past five years at Tynecastle but is out of contract this summer.

    "You speak to the Hearts supporters, you really get a feel of how big this really is," said Devlin. "I've been here long enough now to know what it means to play for Hearts.

    "I think that's such an important thing when you come over here, to get the feeling of the club. It's super special.

    "I feel so privileged to have been here as long as I have and to be in this position we are now, to be one game away from winning the league – there's no hiding away from that now, that's the reality – it's incredible."

    Devlin said he is "feeling really good" after recent injury issues and cannot wait for the chance to make history at Celtic Park.

    "If you don't want to play in this game, football's not for you," he said. "We've got 30-odd boys in that changing room that are busting to be out there.

    "We're in an amazing position. What an opportunity we have. You've just got to relish it. When you're a kid growing up, you've watched these games on the telly, and to be a part of it, it's just so good, man.

    "There's so much to play for. The carrot at the end of the game is there for everyone to see. We're so desperate to do it. We've just got to do what we've done all season in a massive game.

    "I just love going into work every day to see all these boys and to do something special with them, it would mean the absolute world to not only us, but every single person associated with this football club. Fans, staff and all our families."

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  11. Celtic v Hearts: Team newspublished at 17:42 BST 15 May

    Hearts v CelticImage source, SNS

    Celtic have no fresh injuries for the title showdown.

    Martin O'Neill is still without Jota (knee), Colby Donovan (hamstring), Julian Araujo (thigh), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder), Tomas Cvancara (groin) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles).

    Callum Osmand continues his quest for fitness following hamstring surgery.

    Hearts are set to have an unchanged squad, with Marc Leonard, Craig Halkett (both Achilles), Oisin McEntee, Calem Nieuwenhof (both hamstring), Tomas Magnusson and Ageu (both thigh) all still out.

    • Listen to live BBC Radio Scotland coverage from 11:30 BST on Saturday and watch Sportscene highlights from 19:15 on BBC Scotland.