The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Easter rising of 1916 or the signing of the Belfast Agreement/GFA in 1998; for others a trip to Fairyhouse for the Grand National here at Robertson Towers. Easter Sunday will be remembered as yet another match where Celtic rode their luck and got out of jail with a late winner again scored by a substitute.
We’ve seen this so many times, taking the lead, a slew of chances follow that a half decent striker would put away but by half time were left to rue what might have been. The second half, the opposition getting a goal back then a nervy end to the match. Prayers offered up in hope of a late winner, a situation we shouldn’t be in but are, before a sub makes his mark and the Celtic fans exhale with collective relief having managed yet again to get out of jail and keep us within touching distance of the title. This weeks star sub - Kelechi Iheanacho who’s 82 min winner means we live to fight another week.
Indeed next weekend is the last weekend before the split with Celtic hosting St Mirren, Hearts hosting Motherwell (whose form has taken a dive just at the wrong time for the club), and The Rangers travel to Falkirk on Sunday. Speaking of Falkirk, young Barney Stewart scored again on Saturday for the fifth game in a row for the club who managed to put away Motherwell at Fir Park in a 3-2 victory. I’ve made it clear I’m a fan of the Motherwell manager and I still am. Every club goes through rough patches and I’m sure the ‘Well will have a major say in the title race. To write them off is foolish, sure they can’t win the league from fourth but they can make sure others don’t either. Only a fool would judge Askou on recent performances and not on the season as a whole. Falkirk themselves have been a constant threat throughout the season and they too will have a bearing on where the SPL title ends up.
So to the other matches.
With Storm Dave on the horizon it looked a little touch and go for a time if we’d have all three title contenders playing this weekend but thankfully we did, and for the neutral a plethora of goals to savour.
Ibrox, Saturday, and a chance for Rangers to overtake Hearts if only for 24 hours at the top of the table. Honestly, it’s hard not to be impressed with this team. Once they broke down a determined United with a tap in from Naderi in the 30th minute the crowd could settle as could the team and get the job done. A second from Sterling followed ten mins later to put the ‘Gers 2-0 ahead and more importantly to the top of the table. It wasn’t pretty. Indeed, a goalkeeping howler led to this but it mattered not: the score is prize, not how you get it.
Shortly before half time the travelling Arabs were given hope as Fatah scored from a lovely through ball from Agyei and as the half time whistle blew for some the nerves returned. A short lived worry though as this Rangers team are battlers and another from Aasgaard in the 52nd min restored the Rangers advantage. And whilst Sapsford did pull another back in the 72nd min even at 3-2 Röhl and his men never looked like dropping points here. A late fourth by former Aberdeen hitman Miovski putting the icing on the cake, sent the Rangers to the top and the majority of the 51,000 home happy.
Saturday night, Clyde 1 Super Score Board comment section was awash with cigar smoking feet up Rangers fans celebrating their top of the league position, a little prematurely perhaps but when you’ve won one title to your rivals thirteen in fourteen years it was difficult not to let them have their moment in the sun.
Sunday, and over to snowy West Lothian who had felt the brunt of Storm Dave on Saturday night and were suffering from the prevailing conditions. My son informing me that it’s too damn cold to go out or turn the heating off. We’ve raised a generation of softies 🙄🤣 Anyway, back to the football and Hearts travelled to Livingston, desperate to retain their three point advantage at the top of the table, now finding themselves in second, albeit on goal difference, having spent the majority of the season with only blue skies above. Livingston with little but pride to play for and rooted firmly at the bottom of the table looked there for the taking, and as the team bus travelled along the M8 I’m fairly sure three points was already in the minds of the players. Livi though weren’t there to lie down, aren’t quite ready to die just yet and continue to fight what seems a losing battle by stunning the visitors with a bullet from May in the fifth min. 1-0 to the hosts and the roars of both Livingston and Rangers fans alike could be heard far and wide.
Hearts, though, haven’t been league leaders most of 2025/26 for nothing and it wasn’t too long before Shankland (a man who in my opinion should start for Scotland at WC2026) pulled one back for the visitors and levelling the scores at 1-1 in the 24th minute. A powerful header from the club captain to take the teams in level at half time.
From sunshine in the first half to blizzard conditions in the second the rapid change in temperature seemed to galvanise Hearts who came out looking much the stronger in the second 45. Fans who’d braved the weather and made the short trip from the Capital were rewarded in the 51st minute when a Shankland cross was met by the head of Braga and nestled into the net. Hearts were once again three points clear. Football though as we’ve said many times is not a game for counting chickens and it’s this unpredictability that keeps us turning up, tuning in and supporting clubs throughout thick and thin. As the sun reappeared so did the Livi spirit and some lovely build up play in the 58th minute led to an equaliser from Smith. An utterly stupid challenge by Leonard in stoppage time led to a yellow which after a VAR check was then scrapped and replaced with a red, it will have both manager and fans leaving scratching their heads. Final score 2-2 and Hearts lead the table by one point. There are now 3 points between the top 3 and some very tense moments lie ahead.
Final word of the weekend belongs to Raith Rovers who lifted the KDM Evolution trophy (Scottish challenge cup) in front of nearly 5000 at Partick's Fir Hill, taking care of Inverness Caley by four goals to one. It’s a long slog from August 27th to April 5th and whilst condolences must go to Inverness it’s hats off to Raith. Congratulations to Dougie Imrie his staff, team and of course fans.
Til next time …
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
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