Heart of Midlothian

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.

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.

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

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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."

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"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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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.

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Nerves? What nerves?

Derek McInnes insists he is feeling no trepidation for Hearts' title decider at Celtic Park on Saturday and has urged his squad to embrace the "box office" occasion.

"I'm not nervous about it, but dealing with nerves is part of professional sport, particularly when it gets to this stage," the Tynecastle boss said.

"There's been a lot of pressure on our lads for a long time now. When you're playing for a club like Hearts, there is pressures and there should be. There's an expectation there, but I think the players have dealt with it brilliantly throughout the campaign.

"I'm actually not concerned with that side of it.

"Of course the game's huge, and it'll be different in so many aspects, but it's also exciting.

"As managers and players we play in some tough venues, no-mark stadiums and rotten conditions, so you have to enjoy playing in what it is tomorrow, 60,000, live on TV, a brilliant atmosphere, with it all at stake.

"I'd rather be playing in it than watching it. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, it has been a brilliant campaign, but it could be the most special campaign.

"With the records broken internally as a club, and what we've done this season, I think they'll always be regarded as a special team. But obviously if we want to elevate that, we have to go and win it.

"It's up to us to try and create our own history and our own legacy with a big performance."

Hearts intend to "rip up the script" one more time this season by winning the title at Celtic Park on Saturday, says head coach Derek McInnes.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

After an incredible Scottish Premiership season, it all comes down to this Saturday as Celtic host Hearts in a seismic title shootout.

Celtic need to win while Hearts only need a point to be crowned top-flight champions for the first time since 1961 and become the first non-Old Firm winners in 41 years.

The previous meetings between the sides this season make good reading for Hearts fans.

Three different Celtic managers have tried, and failed, to beat the Tynecastle outfit as Martin O'Neill prepares for another attempt, this time with the biggest prize of all at stake.

Here's the story of their previous meetings this term...

26 October: Hearts 3-1 Celtic

Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, had just suffered their first defeat to Dundee in 37 years and headed to Tynecastle five points behind the league leaders.

Dane Murray fired into his own net to put Hearts ahead inside 10 minutes but Callum McGregor hit back with his first goal of the season.

Alexandros Kyziridis restored Hearts' lead in the second half before Lawrence Shankland converted a spot-kick three minutes later to take all three points.

The defeat ultimately led to Rodgers' resignation the following day and the return of Martin O'Neill for his first interim spell.

7 December: Celtic 1-2 Hearts

Wilfried Nancy, appointed four days earlier, made his Celtic managerial debut - and Hearts spoiled the Frenchman's party.

Claudio Braga robbed Callum McGregor and tucked away the visitors' opener and Oisin McEntee emphatically headed Derek McInnes' side into a 2-0 lead.

Despite 15 shots and over 70 per cent possession, Celtic could only find a late consolation goal through Kieran Tierney.

That victory moved Hearts three points above Celtic, who had a game in hand.

25 January: Hearts 2-2 Celtic

After Nancy's disastrous spell Celtic again turned to O'Neill and he took charge of the most recent meeting between the sides.

Celtic - bidding to cut Hearts' title lead to three points - led through Benjamin Nygren's opener until Stuart Findlay headed the leveller early in the second half.

Hyun-jun Yang had Celtic back in front with half an hour left and it looked like O'Neill was on course for a win - until Auston Trusty's red card with just over 10 to play.

Braga netted a late equaliser to take a point and keep Hearts comfortably ahead in the title race.

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Former Hibs and Celtic midfielder Scott Allan says Derek McInnes and Hearts will relish heading to Parkhead as underdogs with Premiership glory on the line.

Hearts must avoid defeat on Saturday to clinch their first top-flight title in over 60 years, while defending champions Celtic need a win to retain the trophy.

With Celtic at home after winning in dramatic late fashion away to Motherwell on Wednesday night, many observers believe the momentum is with Martin O'Neill's side.

But Allan reckons that will suit McInnes and his Hearts players.

"McInnes will be happy to go there with all the pressure on Celtic," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I don't think you have to overcomplicate it. As long as you defend well and you make them defend, I think there's chances.

"Hearts have the two best strikers in the league in Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland, there's no getting away from that, and I do feel they will score goals so it's about how the crowd then reacts.

"Hearts have played Celtic three times this year and Celtic haven't beaten them yet so there is bit of confidence there.

"I think McInnes is going be happy going there with everyone expecting Celtic to win because what a way that would be for Hearts to clinch the title."

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Former Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas has praised "wise" head coach Derek McInnes and is willing the squad to complete a stunning title triumph.

Jankauskas, now the Lithuania national team boss, was part of the Hearts team of 2006 who topped the table after starteing the campaign with an eight-game winning run before going on to finish second, 17 points behind Celtic.

The 51-year-old is optimistic about Hearts' chances at Celtic Park on Saturday where the visitors will be crowned champions should they avoid defeat.

"I know that it's in their hands," Jankauskas told BBC World Service.

"So, no matter the opponents left to play, when you are a leading dog it's in your hands.

"I wish and I hope that they are not going to slip up and we'll finish first."

Much of Hearts' success this season can be attributed to head coach McInnes, who was appointed last summer.

And Jankauskas isn't surprised by the 54-year-old's success.

"He's done a terrific job," he added.

"He's composed, he's a very wise man. You can see the calmness after games and even after defeats.

"Of course, when you win more, it's easier to have that positive posture. But I judge or rate people on how they behave after unsuccessful spells.

"He's very constructive, logical thinking. So it's no surprise that he had success with this team."