What an interesting six weeks it has been in the world of Scottish football.
It wasn’t so long ago that Celtic were deservedly getting beaten at Hearts, Brendan Rodgers was walking out, the club was in a mess, with the Premiership leaders dreaming of the unthinkable.
Fast forward to the present, Celtic have found their flow, Derek McInnes can’t stop mentioning the Hoops, Wilfried Nancy has officially arrived after Martin O’Neill’s outstanding interim period, and Sunday’s meeting is now going to be rather interesting.
Whilst Celtic sent off O’Neill by beating Dundee at Parkhead, the Jambos drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock after conceding a 90th-minute goal, as McInnes had some interesting words to say post-match.
Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty ImagesDerek McInnes mentions Celtic’s result against Dundee after Hearts’ draw with Kilmarnock
Hearts haven’t won in four matches, and they have also drawn four matches since beating Celtic at the end of October.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McInnes expressed his frustration at his players not seeing the game out and mentioned the champions of Scotland getting the ‘job done’ against Dundee.
For some odd reason, not that it should be of any concern to McInnes, he started explaining how the Celtic Park faithful were looking for ‘a bit more than 1-0.’
“I thought we were good value for getting all three points,” said McInnes. “Obviously, you aren’t there until the final whistle. You want to make sure that you just see the game out.
“Kilmarnock changed their shape. I thought we had total control of the game – Just looking for a bit more end product. We should be talking about 1-0 Shankland. Sometimes, 1-0 is enough, and 1-0 should be enough.
“You see Celtic. I am no doubt their fans were looking for a bit more than 1-0. But they get the job done. Keep the clean sheet. Don’t make any mistakes. And we just needed to be that.
“Sometimes, you want to add to it and get that second goal, which kills the enthusiasm of the opponent. But sometimes 1-0 is enough. And 1-0 should have been enough.”
Are Hearts and Derek McInnes feeling the heat ahead of Celtic meeting?
🗣️ “Sometimes 1-0 is enough, and it should’ve been tonight. You see Celtic… they get the job done”
Derek McInnes was frustrated that his Hearts side didn’t hold on against Kilmarnock ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/E28lo3J48X
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 3, 2025
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McInnes says ‘nobody expects’ Hearts to beat Celtic on Sunday
Nancy’s first game in charge will be against Hearts, as three points will send Celtic to the top of the Premiership table, with a game in hand.
In the build-up to the reverse fixture, there were a lot of supporters, even probably Celtic ones, thinking and felt a defeat was on the cards. It happened.
But ahead of Sunday’s meeting, McInnes thinks all of that has now changed.
“Yeah, absolutely (the players will need picking up), that’s the job, it’s our job, me and my staffs job to try and do that,” added McInnes.
“But the players also have been around the block long enough. It’s football. It’s ups and downs. A lot of it is mental as well. Just making sure we concentrate on being the best we can be for Sunday because we are going to have to be.
“But a few weeks ago, we were magnificent here and beat Celtic deservedly so. They are a team that tests your organisation. The added factor of a new manager at Celtic Park. Loads of ingredients.
“I feel we have a team that will relish the opportunity that is there in front of us. It might just be the game that nobody will expect us now. I think everybody expected us to beat them here the last time.
“At the minute, nobody will probably expect us to beat them. So, let’s wait and see.”
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