I watched Hearts beat Dundee and noted trophy already at Tynecastle, unheralded signing and Rangers' big error

It means that the Jam Tarts go into the international break at least three points clear of their nearest rivals, with just seven matches of the league campaign remaining.

Alan Pattullo was in Gorgie on Saturday afternoon to cover the match for The Scotsman and here is his notebook:

Trophy already at Tynecastle

Silverware glinting in the sunshine at Tynecastle. Only the Genesis Scottish Open golf trophy in this instance. It was placed on a plinth on the plaza outside the main stand as part of Hearts’ Foundation Day celebrations. But will the Premiership title trophy be paraded at the ground in May? Hearts are now guaranteed to be top in April after Saturday’s narrow and at times nervy 1-0 win over Dundee.

To stay with the golf theme. If the Premiership season is a 72-hole tournament, then Derek McInnes’ side are standing approximately at the tee of the 59th hole. Or to put it another way, the tee of the 13th hole on the final day.

They are checking the wind direction, selecting the next club and trying not to get too ahead of themselves. It is Livingston away next. They just need to keep it together.

Of course, many golfers have floundered in these high-stakes circumstances. And it isn’t just Hearts against a single opponent. It is a three ball – Hearts, Rangers and Celtic. Although Hearts' title rivals might have more experience of this position, they also have to play each other and risk losing ground. If Hearts can just look after themselves and take it step by step to the clubhouse, they will make history.

Just don’t do a Tom Watson at Troon in 2009 and bogey the 72nd hole after leading for so long. Of course, he had age as an excuse. “The old fogey almost did it,” he later lamented. Hearts fans will be hoping the currently injured veteran ‘keeper Craig Gordon has no cause to say the same thing by mid-May.

The smart signing and McInnes’ tactics

Match winner Oisin McEntee might be relatively unheralded but he is turning into such an important player for Hearts. He was the club’s fourth summer signing after joining from Walsall at the end of last season and it’s fair to say he caused the least commotion. Some might have wondered whether captures from Walsall was what the Tony Bloom Revolution was meant to be about when actually it’s exactly what it’s about.

It is no slight on McEntee to point out that no Hearts fan seems quite sure of his best position. In fact, it’s a compliment. He has slotted in well wherever needed, whether across the backline or in midfield. He was deployed at right back against Dundee. McInnes explained why afterwards.

The manager anticipated Dundee playing Drey Wright at left back. “He (Wright) likes to play in the pitch, and the reason he does that is because Luke Graham will just serve (Tony) Yogane all day long,” said McInnes, who admitted he was quite pleased with himself for the tactical manoeuvre that saw Jordi Altena, ostensibly a right back as well, positioned ahead of McEntee at right midfield.

“We thought about (playing) Chesnokov and we thought about Kerjota but we knew Drey Wright would play left back,” he continued. “If you have a 'lefty' (left-footed player) going in on a right-footed player all the time, it is favouring the defender a wee bit. What we wanted to do was play Jordi, because he is such a good footballer and was a real plus for us, we wanted him to play in tight little half-space and give Drey Wright some decisions (to make). And then get Oisin McEntee to attack the space that was left. And I thought Oisin did it brilliantly.”

McEntee also attacked the ball when he had to, specifically when Marc Leonard floated a free kick towards the far post for the all-important goal. It was McEntee’s second league goal for the club. The other was the winner at Parkhead in December. These headers have earned his side a potentially crucial four points. Not bad for a free from Walsall.

Rangers’ big summer mistake

It's been asked before, but what on earth were Rangers thinking when they decided not to pay the wages Lawrence Shankland was asking for in the summer? It could come back to haunt them in a serious way.

Not simply because Shankland’s goals helped power Hearts to the top of the league before he was forced to take an extended break due to a hamstring injury. But also because that now he is back the surge of belief and confidence that was almost palpable when he came on at Tynecastle on Saturday might be the difference between Hearts winning the title and Rangers (and Celtic) being unable to catch them.

His return has been described as like a new signing but he’s been contributing hugely off the pitch too. “His influence hasn’t been there on the pitch in recent weeks but it’s been there screaming through the club for the last couple of months,” said McInnes of his inspirational skipper.

Now he’s back where it matters, Hearts will take some stopping.