Celtic can't keep getting away with it but not everyone agrees on Hearts and Rangers ratings

Those who tuned in for Kilmarnock 2-3 Celtic, and then Rangers 4-2 Hearts, on Sunday afternoon cannot complain about what was on offer. We had some fantastic goals - take a bow Sebastian Tounekti - some comedy moments. Yes, Emmanuel Fernandez, Michael Steinwender and Kasper Schmeichel, we are looking at you. And drama. Boy did we have drama.

The upshot of it all is that what was an already highly enjoyable Premiership title race has become even more engrossing. Leaders Hearts have been reeled in to within touching distance. This is how it stands: Hearts top on 57 points with a goal difference of +26, Rangers second on 55 points with an identical goal difference and Celtic third on 54 points (+22).

Can we discount Motherwell? We will get to them a bit later on. They sit fourth on 47 points (+22) after routinely beating Aberdeen 2-0 at Fir Park on Sunday. The television cameras didn’t catch that one live.

The big winners came in the west. Celtic were 2-0 down to Kilmarnock at half time and found a way, for the third match in a row, to stay alive in stoppage time. Goals against Dundee (97 minutes) and Livingston (91 minutes) were trumped by Julian Araujo’s sweeping left-footed strike in 97 minutes that plundered three points from Rugby Park. No wonder the on-loan Mexican leapt into the away end to jig with the jubilant Celtic support.

The defending champions are back to being odds-on favourites for the title. They have a game in hand over the two teams above them, away at struggling Aberdeen on Wednesday, March 4. The problem Martin O’Neill men have is that they are fighting on multiple fronts: Premiership, Scottish Cup and the Europa League. Their diary is congested.

Before the split, the rest of their league matches read as follows: Hibs (h), Rangers (a), Aberdeen (a), Motherwell (h), Dundee United (a), Dundee (a) and St Mirren (h). On paper, it looks the toughest run of the contenders - particularly when you factor in a two-legged Euro date with VfB Stuttgart and a Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox.

Celtic won’t keep getting away with it

Celtic were poor in the first half against Kilmarnock. Under O’Neill, they find a way to win but it is not convincing. They looked better when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was patrolling their midfield and keeping him fit appears pivotal to their chances of success. Unfortunately for them, he cannot exert much influence on the defence. Goalkeeper Schmeichel had an afternoon to forget and centre-half Auston Trusty served up a reminder of why Celtic fans are still sceptical of him.

Celtic should also be thankful that Rangers landed a significant blow on Hearts. Their 4-2 win at Ibrox - they trialed twice in the first half - was the biggest indicator yet that Danny Rohl’s juggernaut is rolling towards silverware. He played a 4-2-2-2 formation with wingers and over-lapping full-backs. Rangers looked so much more dangerous as a result and after months of results coming upon the foundations of a solid defence, perhaps now is the time to be more adventurous.

Youssef Chermiti’s hat-trick was another reminder that there is a player in there, a proper No 9, but much coaxing is required. Having Ryan Naderi next to him clearly was of benefit. Eliminated from European competition, it is only the Scottish Cup and the Premiership occupying Rangers’ thoughts.

Their pre-split run-in has a more favourable look to it: Livingston (a), Celtic (h), St Mirren (a), Aberdeen (h), Dundee United (h) and Falkirk (a).

For only the fourth time this season, Hearts tasted defeat. What may be of concern is that two of them have come this month. There can be no doubting that the leaders have slowed down in terms of performances and results, although they are able to welcome back two key players in Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland in March.

The oddsmen have moved Derek McInnes’ side out to 10/3 outsiders in the top three. They believe that the Old Firm will overtake the Jam Tarts. As seriously impressive as Hearts have been this term, there is a feeling from some that they may be about to unravel.

Such a sentiment has little grounding. Hearts have bounced back from defeats before this term and with their next two matches coming at Tynecastle, a venue they have not lost at this season, they have fertile ground for reproducing results of yore.

Their pre-split list is: Falkirk (h), Aberdeen (h), Kilmarnock (a), Dundee (h), Livingston (a) and Motherwell (h). While every team has something to play for, they don’t face either side of the Old Firm, or capital rivals Hibs, until at least late April.

Motherwell also have a game in hand, away to Dundee, and could move on to the coattails of the top three should they win that and maintain their exceptional run under Jens Berthel Askou. Also in the Scottish Cup, their league assignments up until week 33 goes like this: St Mirren (a), Dundee (a), Dundee United (h), Celtic (a), Hibs (h), Falkirk (h) and Hearts (a).

The action in this league is not just confined to the title race. Dundee United and Aberdeen, seventh and eighth respectively, will have designs on the top six but will also have an eye on what is going on beneath them, with Kilmarnock’s uptick under Neil McCann meaning 11th and the relegation play-off is not cut and dried. Livingston are eight points adrift at the bottom but will scrap until the very end. All 12 teams have something to play for.

Not that it needs to be said, but the remainder of the season is compelling viewing. Celtic and Rangers may feel the wind is back in their sails. Hearts still have the advantage. Over to next weekend ...