The former Jambos hero has his say on a thrilling title race and believes his old club can make history – but he is wary of one outsider in the Premiership
Ryan Stevenson
06:00, 26 Feb 2026
Hearts’ Islam Chesnokov celebrates
I fully realise how crazy this is about to sound even though Scottish football is living through the single most mental season of all time.
But right now, I’m starting to wonder if Motherwell might be more of a threat to Hearts this season than either Celtic or Rangers.
Don’t get me wrong. The twists and turns of the last weekend have made me more convinced than ever that the top flight title really is on its way to Tynecastle.
With Motherwell sitting in fourth place right now and ten points off the pace at the top of the table, albeit with a game in hand, I think there’s probably too much for them to do in terms of knocking my old club out of pole position.
But I also must be very honest and admit that they are the form side in the whole country right now as well as the most attractive team to watch. I’m not kidding when I say it’s possible they could overtake both halves of the Old Firm between now and May.
And can you imagine how that would look when the dust has settled? Hearts in first place, Motherwell runners up. With Celtic and Rangers fighting it out between themselves to come third and fourth?
It’s already been an incredible campaign up until this point – so much so that the interest in our game from south of the border is hitting new heights – but it’s no longer just the most enjoyable and entertaining league season anyone can remember. It’s becoming something truly historic. And I’m absolutely sure of it.
Motherwell are bringing all the style and I have no problem admitting that. They are a great watch.
But if they’ve got the swagger then Hearts have got the street smarts which will allow Derek McInnes and his players to grind out the wins they need to get over the line in first place.
Hearts striker Claudio Braga and Islam Chesnokov celebrate
Also, the fans of both clubs are loving every minute of it. They’re totally engaged and when that happens, it can have an amazing effect on results and performances.
I was at Tynecastle on Saturday and let’s just say the home crowd got the memo from last week’s column. They gave the team everything for 90 minutes and it was enough to help the players to a crucial 1-0 win.
I drove home from that match almost shaking my head in disbelief. Another win in the bag – three more points on the board. This is really happening!
And then I settled into the sofa on Sunday afternoon to watch Rangers away at Livingston, while checking my phone for live scores from Celtic’s game at home to HIbs.
Let’s just say, by the time both games were over it really did feel like the weekend the league was won and lost. Obviously, there’s still work to do. I realise that.
But if Hearts can take care of a visit from Aberdeen on Saturday afternoon, then Del and the players will be able to sit back on Sunday to watch the Old Firm derby and enjoy watching one or both of them dropping even more points.
Motherwell, meanwhile, face Dundee United at Fir Park. And you might as well stick the mortgage on them tucking away another three points from that fixture.
The game at Ibrox is not so easy to call. I put my hand up, I have absolutely no idea what to expect from that one although I’d bite your hand off for a 0-0 draw right now.
But what I would say is this. I’m not even sure that Celtic still want this title. I’m far from convinced their hearts are fully in it.
There’s been so much infighting and anger from the fans towards the board that it’s all got so toxic that it feels like they are totally distracted and focussed more on their own internal issues than they are on defending their crown.
It’s been such an incredible implosion that I’m not sure they even care about the league any more. And I believe the defeat at home to Hibs was a sign that they have completely gone.
If they’re on the wrong end of another sore one at the home of their rivals this weekend then there will be no way back. It’s over.
Worse still, Motherwell could then end the weekend just a point behind the champions and, if that happens, Celtic might be fighting for fourth place more than they are in the battle for first.
Rangers? Well, who knows what you’re going to get from them from week to week. I was at Ibrox the other weekend and I admitted they were well worth their win over Hearts. I felt like a huge moment for them.
But for Danny Rohl to follow that win up by scraping a draw in the dying seconds against a Livingston side sat at the bottom of the league?
Rangers Head Coach Danny Rohl (Image: SNS Group)
What does that say about them? Is it any wonder if even their own supporters aren’t sure if they have a proper challenge on their hands or not?
So, while Celtic’s fans are opening fire on their own club, the Rangers supporters don’t know if they can place their trust in their team.
And that’s a huge contrast to the mood of the punters at Motherwell and Hearts right now. They must feel like they’re on some kind of a magic carpet ride as they head towards the split.
If Rangers do win on Sunday they’ll probably still be four points behind. If they draw at home to Celtic then that gap could grow to six.
Hearts would then face Kilmarnock away, Dundee at home and Livingston away in their next three games. And the reason they are still sitting top is because of how consistent they have been since the season started.
With Aberdeen first up on Saturday I believe 10 or 12 points from this run of games will get the job done regardless of whatever happens when Rangers and Celtic face each other this weekend.
Motherwell? They’ll be sitting watching on in the belief that they also might have an outside chance and knowing they’ve also got a trip to Tynecastle to come before the split
Even if they can’t catch Hearts then they can certainly set their sights on a second placed finish.
And what a monumental season it would be if that’s how this fairytale story ends.