NafisaLast season’s Scottish Premiership title race delivered one of the most dramatic conclusions in recent memory, with Hearts coming agonisingly close to ending their long wait for a league championship before Celtic snatched the trophy away on the final day.
Derek McInnes had guided the Edinburgh side to the brink of something historic. Hearts had finished in the bottom six the previous season, but suddenly found themselves competing with the traditional Glasgow giants for the biggest prize in Scottish football.
They accumulated 80 points and spent much of the campaign at the top of the table, giving their supporters genuine belief that a first league title since 1960 was finally within reach.
However, the closing stages of the season left McInnes and his players with plenty of frustration.
The controversy began during Celtic’s trip to Motherwell in the penultimate round of fixtures. Deep into stoppage time, a handball decision involving Hearts player Sam Nicholson resulted in a VAR review and a penalty awarded by referee John Beaton.
Kelechi Iheanacho converted from the spot to give Celtic a crucial victory, leaving Hearts furious over the decision. McInnes subsequently described the incident as “disgusting” and was handed a touchline ban by the Scottish FA over his remarks.
That result set up a dramatic final-day showdown at Celtic Park, where Hearts needed only a draw to secure the championship.
Celtic, however, had other ideas.
Martin O’Neill’s side produced a 3-1 victory, with late goals sealing the title and sparking emotional celebrations. Hearts were left empty-handed despite spending the majority of the campaign leading the standings.
McInnes eventually departed Tynecastle for Rangers, but the disappointment has clearly remained with him.
Ahead of his return to Tynecastle as Rangers manager this week, the former Hearts boss reopened the debate by speaking about a lingering sense of injustice.
McInnes suggested Hearts “should have won the title” and maintained that “for a few contentious decisions going against us, I think we would have won it.”
Those comments have now attracted a fierce response from former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady, who believes the Rangers manager is overlooking the most important detail of the entire title race.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, McGeady questioned what exactly McInnes believed had been taken away from his former team.
“The injustice has been mentioned a few times. What was the injustice? Was it a few contentious decisions, as he said?
“But at the end of the day, it was in your hands and you blew it. It was in your hands and you blew it. All you had to do was draw the last game of the season. Couldn’t do it.
“So I can understand why you’re going to put it down to, ‘It’s not my fault, it’s not the team’s fault, it’s referees.’
“But, yeah, for me, that’s you glossing over that.”
McGeady’s message was unmistakable. While he acknowledged the controversy surrounding the refereeing decisions, he insisted Hearts had the opportunity to finish the job themselves and failed to take it.
Interestingly, Celtic captain Callum McGregor has reacted behind the scenes, delivering a response to McInnes’ latest comments.
However, the midfielder’s position as the leader of the team that ultimately secured the championship means his perspective would inevitably attract attention.
“Look, Hearts had a brilliant season and pushed us all the way — fair play to them. Derek’s entitled to feel whatever he feels after coming so close, but the league table doesn’t lie. Titles are won over 38 games, not one or two decisions, and on the final day we had a job to do at home and we did it. That’s what champions do. We move on and focus on this season.”
McGregor has already experienced the pressure of title races and understands what it takes to get over the line. Celtic needed a result on the final day, and they delivered it in front of their own supporters.
For the Hoops, the championship was ultimately decided by the results accumulated across the entire campaign, rather than the controversy surrounding one or two individual decisions.
There is little doubt that Hearts produced an impressive season under McInnes, but Celtic’s final-day victory ensured the trophy remained in Glasgow.
The former Hearts manager may continue to feel that his side were denied a historic achievement, while McGeady has made it clear that he believes the responsibility for the collapse belongs elsewhere.
With McInnes now in charge of Rangers, the debate has also taken on another dimension, particularly given the rivalry between his current club and Celtic.
For supporters, the argument over last season’s title is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Hearts came remarkably close, Celtic finished the job, and McInnes is still questioning the circumstances that separated the two sides.
But McGeady’s blunt response has ensured the former Hearts boss’ latest comments have not gone unchallenged.
Nafisa
