The build-up to the Hearts vs Celtic fixture has thrown up all sorts of hype and nonsense surrounding the Tynecastle fixture.
Just last week, Hearts boss Derek McInnes was getting bullish about challenging Celtic for the title after his side’s impressive 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
After Celtic’s defeat at Dundee, McInnes will be feeling confident of stretching or even maintaining the five-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
With Celtic coming to Tynecastle, the Edinburgh side will need to be at their best to get a result despite Celtic’s big injury problems.
And while the Parkhead support will be looking at today’s clash with cautious optimism, pundit Hugh Keevins has left himself wide open after he made a big score prediction that left a Superscoreboard colleague stunned.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesHugh Keevins has ‘to believe’ Hearts will beat Celtic 3-0
Keevins has a knack of making daft Celtic predictions and this one even left fellow pundit Cammy Bell speechless.
Keevins told Superscoreboard [18m 41s], “I think Hearts will win the match. I think it was a cruel twist of fate for Celtic, in the midst of a very difficult start to the season, to have lost Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnson, Iheanacho and Daizen Maeda who is not yet fully fit. I think it’s cruel on Celtic.
“However, Hearts are deservedly on top of the table. I have to believe that they will make all of their advantages count tomorrow.
“I think they’ll win 3-0.”
The prediction left Cammy Bell stunned as he replied, “3-0? Wow.” That statement even had Gordon Duncan raising his eyebrows.
You can watch the prediction and Bell’s reaction below:
Why Hugh Keevins’ Hearts vs Celtic title prediction looks daft
Keevins, like any pundit, is allowed his opinion on whether Celtic will win or lose and even on a score prediction, but those should be made based on facts and not simply to create a shock factor.
The last time Celtic lost to Hearts with a three or more goal margin was back in 2017 when the Tynecastle side won 4-0 to end Brendan Rodgers’ 69-game unbeaten run.
Since that time, Celtic have lost just four times against Hearts with three of those defeats coming at Tynecastle. In fact, the Bhoys have lost 3-0 on just one other occasion in Edinburgh since 1996.
While Celtic are not at their fluent best, Rodgers still managed to mastermind a Europa League comeback against Austrian champions Sturm Graz with the injury issues that have beset the Parkhead gaffer this season.
Can Hearts beat Celtic today? Nothing is impossible. But predicting the team with the best defensive record in the league despite their poor form to lose 3-0 is a big stretch and could blow up in Keevins’ face when the full-time whistle blows in Gorgie.