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Michael Stewart believes Rangers and Celtic will be raging after Hearts’ midweek Edinburgh derby victory tightened the Premiership title race and piled pressure on both Glasgow giants.
The former Hearts and Hibs midfielder was on co-commentary duty as his old clubs went head-to-head, with Hearts snatching a dramatic 1-0 win thanks to a late Tomas Magnusson strike.
With Hearts currently sitting top of the table, Stewart claimed the result is exactly what Rangers and Celtic didn’t want — as a goalless draw would have slowed the Jambos’ momentum heading into a massive showdown at Ibrox this weekend.
“Annoyance Along the M8 Will Be Palpable”
Stewart admitted Hearts weren’t at their best, but insisted grinding out wins like this is often the hallmark of title contenders.
He pointed to the celebrations and emotion from the Hearts camp as proof of belief growing in Edinburgh — while warning that frustration in Glasgow will now be reaching breaking point.
According to Stewart, the disappointment “along the M8” will be impossible to ignore, with both Rangers and Celtic knowing Hearts’ win has raised the stakes dramatically.
Hutton Praises Hearts’ Champion Mentality
Former Rangers defender Alan Hutton echoed the sentiment, claiming Hearts showed the kind of resilience required to win championships.
He argued that winning even without a top performance is what separates genuine contenders, stressing that Hearts getting the three points is a major psychological boost ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Hutton also highlighted Hibs’ missed chances, suggesting Hearts once again punished them when it mattered most.
Mulgrew Still Thinks Hearts Will Drop Off
Despite praising Hearts’ fighting spirit, Celtic favourite Charlie Mulgrew insisted he still expects them to fall away.
Mulgrew admitted he has no hard evidence — but said his gut feeling tells him Hearts won’t be able to sustain their title push across an entire season.
He also noted that the league split will be the true test, and he remains unconvinced Hearts can maintain this level until the finish line.
All Eyes on Ibrox and Rugby Park
Hearts now travel to Ibrox this weekend for a massive clash with Rangers, where a home win could reignite Rangers’ hopes of their first title since 2021.
Meanwhile, Celtic will be hoping Rangers slip up, as they prepare for their own fixture away at Kilmarnock — knowing dropped points elsewhere could hand them a crucial advantage.
With Hearts refusing to slow down, Stewart believes the pressure in Glasgow is now building fast — and could soon explode.
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