The Record Sport columnist isn’t buying into the conspiracy theories about the Premiership title race
06:00, 02 May 2026
Celtic’s Yang Hyunjun takes a shot but it goes wide
There has been a lot of noise about the prospect of certain teams lying down in some of the remaining games of the season.
I can’t see it happening. There’s only been one team that lay down in Scottish football over the years, and no one will convince me otherwise.
I copped a six-game SFA ban for making that accusation against Dunfermline in May 2003 after their seven-goal thriller with Rangers, which ended up seeing the title go to Ibrox on goal difference.
That wasn’t a great day all round. In our game down at Kilmarnock, they were time-wasting at 4-0 down for some reason and at the end I gave referee Kenny Clarke a piece of my mind.
I think I got two red cards before I did that TV interview and had another go at Kenny after he finished his warm-down to get another two reds! Let’s just say it was the heat of the moment.
Thankfully Martin O’Neill fought my corner at the Hampden hearing – and my punishment was knocked down to five matches because of my previously outstanding character. It was still a hefty suspension for telling the truth.
Anyway, it’s not like that result still bothers me…
Back in the here and now, plenty of people are suggesting Hibs will roll over against Celtic tomorrow, as they won’t want to give arch-rivals Hearts a leg up in the title fight.
I understand the thinking, and I’m sure there will be enough Hibs supporters who see this game as a nightmare no-win scenario.
But David Gray and his players? No chance. They won’t be thinking along the same lines as fans. There is no way they will be lying down.
They will be looking after themselves, trying to catch Motherwell in fourth place and making sure they are in Europe. They can’t be worrying about what the knock-on effect will be for Hearts.
Similarly on Monday night. There’s no point in Celtic supporters getting themselves worked up with what might be the best result for them when Rangers go to Tynecastle.
Sure, a draw would probably suit them best, and perhaps even a Rangers victory wouldn’t be the worst.
None of this will matter if Celtic can’t take care of their own business.
It would be simple for me if I were in that dressing room. Win the last four games and forget about favours elsewhere.
Obviously that could mean it goes down to goal difference again but at least Celtic might have it in their own hands by that stage.
Who knows if it will get to that stage? What I am certain of is there are more twists and turns to come.
Would I be totally surprised if Celtic slip up at Easter Road? No way. They squeezed out a win there but Hibs won and drew at Celtic Park.
They’ll also be hurting after blowing it against Hearts last weekend. They had a great chance to trip up their rivals but shot themselves in the foot.
But Hibs have been a decent side at times this season and will cause Celtic problems.
Daizen Maeda looking more like his old self is a shot in the arm for my old team and his relentless pressing against Falkirk meant the side were a potent threat without the ball.
Hearts and Rangers played each other at Tynecastle in December(Image: Malcolm Mackenzie/Getty Images)
Of course, there are still issues with creativity, especially in the wide areas but Maeda finding form could be crucial.
Likewise the return of Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels was noticeable last Saturday night.
OK, it wasn’t a perfect performance but there hasn’t been one this term and I doubt that will change now.
Celtic will need to keep finding a way – and it’s the same for the other two.
Monday night’s match at Tynecastle is massive and it’s also impossible to predict.
Hearts are still the ones to beat and you’d think they would be in an incredible position if they win against Rangers.
At the same time, you wouldn’t be surprised if Danny Rohl’s men decided to turn up.
You just don’t know what you are going to get with them. Whenever they’ve looked like they have found form and are going to kick on, they stumble like they did against Motherwell last weekend.
In fairness, Jens Berthel Askou has got a cracking Fir Park side that can do that to anyone.
But it was a huge blow to Rangers and it’s no wonder that first-half performance set off alarm bells for supporters.
They’ve seen this movie too many times, when there has been an opportunity to make a move but they’ve ended up choking.
Hearts would have one hand on the title if they can avoid defeat, but even then I think there will be even more twists and turns.
The derby at Celtic Park could be anything and I wouldn’t be shocked if Celtic dropped points at Fir Park.
Likewise Hearts have to go there. Falkirk are another side who are more than capable of making it very difficult for any team.
All of this uncertainty is what makes it so exciting and by the time the title is settled we all might need a lie down.
