The landscape of Scottish football is undergoing a subtle yet potentially significant shift—are we witnessing Celtic and Rangers finally finding their rhythm as they chase the dominant Hearts? While Heart of Midlothian currently maintain an undefeated streak at the summit of the Scottish Premiership, they've shown vulnerabilities recently, dropping points in two of their last three matches. In contrast, Celtic and Rangers have shown promising signs of resurgence following recent managerial changes, with both clubs enjoying perfect results since appointing new head coaches—Martin O'Neill for Celtic and Danny Rohl for Rangers.
It’s important to note that both managers are relatively new arrivals—O'Neill initially as a temporary stand-in, and Rohl with only a few games under his belt—yet their impacts are already apparent. Although European setbacks, such as disappointments in continental competitions, have marred their recent efforts, the core question remains: are domestic performances revealing a noticeable upward trend for these old rivals?
Currently, Hearts hold a seven-point lead over Celtic and a twelve-point advantage over Rangers, with each of the Glasgow clubs having a game in hand. This means there’s still plenty of scope for the chasing pack to narrow the gap, but the early signs of momentum are encouraging for Celtic and Rangers.
Reflecting on Celtic’s recent journey, when O'Neill stepped in last month, he inherited a club embroiled in internal conflicts—highlighted by the tense departure of Brendan Rodgers and the club’s tumultuous atmosphere. At that point, Hearts had beaten Celtic comprehensively 3-1 at Tynecastle, emphasizing the challenge ahead. O’Neill's task was to steady the ship, and so far, he’s made tangible progress. Despite a tough European defeat against Midtjylland, O'Neill has clinched three consecutive victories with Celtic, closing the league gap and earning a spot in the Premier Sports Cup final at Rangers' expense.
Under his guidance, Celtic’s attack has faced a renaissance—scoring 11 goals across those wins—an improvement from the struggling offensive record under Rodgers, where they managed just 10 goals in seven matches, with the majority coming from a single League Cup victory. O’Neill himself praised their dominant 4-0 triumph over Kilmarnock but acknowledged there’s still work ahead if they aim to defend their championship. "Performance-wise, I was very pleased with certain aspects, especially our defensive organization," he explained. "Of course, chasing leaders requires help, and there's a long way to go."
Regarding his future, O’Neill remains non-committal. He expressed uncertainty whether he’ll be in charge for the upcoming fixture against St Mirren, suggesting that if his current stint concludes—a possibility if his recent run is his final act at Celtic—he’s prepared to accept it gracefully. "I’ll take some time during the international break for reflection; many of our players will be away, allowing me to assess everything. It’s been an intense couple of weeks, and I still can’t quite believe it’s all happened. If the club’s board decides otherwise, I respect that fully," he said.
On the other side, Rangers have experienced a remarkable turnaround under Rohl, with their points tally doubling since his appointment. In just three league matches, Rangers have won all three, scoring seven goals and conceding only one. Notably, they’ve kept two clean sheets on the road—an impressive feat after a 23-match streak without away clean sheets in all competitions. The squad’s renewed cohesion was evident during Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Dundee, with fans enthusiastically vocalizing their support for Rohl’s leadership.
The 36-year-old manager is eager to solidify this early momentum, emphasizing team solidarity. "I see increasing unity among players and staff. I have strong backing from my coaching team, and the players are receptive. If we can align this spirit with our supporters, we’re heading in the right direction to build something sustainable," he explained.
In stark contrast to the struggling, disjointed passing game under Russell Martin, Rohl’s approach is more pragmatic and direct—focusing on penetrating the final third quickly, utilizing longer passes when necessary. Their resilience was showcased in a gritty defensive display at Easter Road, where they managed to protect a lead, and even in losses, such as the semi-final defeat to Celtic, they created promising chances despite playing most of the match with ten men. Rohl highlighted that maintaining clean sheets and consistent progress are key, and although there’s room for improvement, the trajectory looks promising.
Meanwhile, Hearts, despite seeing their lead slightly reduced, remain undefeated in league play and have secured notable victories against the Old Firm. Their upcoming fixtures include matches at Aberdeen and Motherwell, and they benefit from not having European commitments in the near future—unlike Rangers and Celtic, which face tougher tests in European competitions.
Rangers, though still trailing Hearts on goal difference, are poised as favorites at home against promoted sides Livingston and Falkirk, especially given their recent strong form. Celtic faces more difficult away challenges against St Mirren and Hibernian; if they manage to navigate these successfully, the league race could become unexpectedly tight by early December when Hearts are set to host Celtic at Celtic Park.
So, here’s the big question: are Celtic and Rangers truly turning the tide, or are we witnessing an initial phase of rebound that might still be interrupted by inconsistency? With new managers making impactful starts and shifting team dynamics, fans and pundits alike are eager to see if this momentum will sustain itself through the demanding winter months. Do you believe this new wave will re-establish Old Firm dominance, or is Hearts’ early lead still secure? Your thoughts in the comments—this debate is just heating up.
