Celtic fans welcome the challenge that Hearts are putting up for the Scottish Premiership title this season.
With Rangers having a disastrous start to the season, Hearts have stepped up to challenge Celtic as Tony Bloom appears to have revolutionised the Tynecastle club.
Celtic are currently seven points behind Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, but with a game in hand, that lead is easily catchable as the fixtures come thick and fast.
And it’s the number of fixtures coming Hearts and Celtic’s way over the next couple of months that makes former Tynecastle star, David Templeton, worry about his old club’s title credentials.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty ImagesEx-Hearts icon David Templeton is seriously worried about Celtic and Rangers
Templeton was at Hearts when the capital club challenged Celtic for the title in 2005 under George Burley.
However, despite Hearts’ great start to the season, Templeton believes that the strength of Celtic will prevail.
Templeton told the Daily Record, “I still think Rangers can claw themselves back into the title race.
“Celtic aren’t that far ahead and for Hearts to do it over the course of the whole season is really difficult.
“They drew with Dundee United last week and if they realistically want to win the league, those are the types of games they need to win.”
Templeton is worried that Hearts won’t have Celtic’s ‘consistency’
One thing about Celtic’s domination of Scottish football is the Parkhead club’s ability to continue to win major trophies.
And that is something that Templeton believes will be Hearts’ downfall.
Templeton continued, “It’s about consistency, especially when you get into December and January.
“Don’t get me wrong, if Hearts are still up there Bloom might go and strengthen again.
“So they could have a squad strong enough to do it. But it’s also important to have players who have been there and done it.
“It’s all new to Hearts, that pressure of being top and having a team behind them. I’d love to see them do it.
“But Rangers and Celtic will get stronger as the season goes on.”
Hearts do look like a different animal to the team that Templeton played in, and have already recorded big wins against Celtic and Rangers.
The acid test for the Tynecastle side will be in December when Hearts visit Celtic Park. If they can avoid defeat there, then that will be the biggest clue yet that the Edinburgh side can maintain a sustained title challenge.