Are these the 30 minutes that saved Hearts' title bid?

Müsabaka gündeminden önemli bir haber: Are these the 30 minutes that saved Hearts' title bid? Image source, SNS Image caption, Lawrence Shankland, Pierre Landry Kabore and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored vital goals By Clive Lindsay Sport Scotland Published 44 minutes ago It could prove to be the 30 minutes that saved Heart of Midlothian's Scottish title chances. Derek McInnes' side have led the Premiership since September, but with an hour gone at Tynecastle on Saturday, they were 1-0 behind classy looking visitors Motherwell, while third-placed Celtic were leading St Mirren by the same scoreline.

If it stayed that way, Martin O'Neill's reigning champions would have drawn level with Hearts, only then behind on goal difference. Worse still for the Edinburgh side, Rangers would be handed the opportunity to leapfrog both and go top should they win away to sixth-placed Falkirk on Sunday. With Celtic hosting Falkirk next on 27 April before Hearts' next game the following day, McInnes' side would have faced the prospect of going into a testing Edinburgh derby away to fifth-top Hibernian while down in third place.

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Instead, a 3-1 win made sure they will go into that first of five "post-split" fixtures leading the Premiership as it breaks into two sections of six teams. That might be particularly significant considering the team doing so have gone on to win the title every year since 2009. Leaders Hearts score late double against Motherwell to stay three clear Oxlade-Chamberlain gives Celtic win on frustrating day Watch: Sportscene Premiership highlights 'It's five cup finals' - Shankland Letting Celtic draw level on points could have been particularly fatal for Hearts considering the reigning champions have three of their remaining five games at home, including a potential final-day title showdown against Hearts, while both their title rivals have two.

There was plenty of tension at Tynecastle as a result, but McInnes hailed his side as they "had to dig deep" for victory. It is not for the first time. Hearts have won 13 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season - only Dundee United, with 16, have recovered more.

Amazingly, though, this was their first win in the seven games in which they have conceded the opening goal since 30 August against Livingston - and they will surely take confidence from that. Emmanuel Longelo had put Motherwell ahead in the 50th minute and the visitors squandered several good chances before and after Claudio Braga levelled. "There's no two ways about it - we were under the cosh," McInnes admitted.

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"But I still felt quite calm in the sense I thought we would score. We very rarely don't score, particularly here at Tynecastle. " Indeed, Hearts have found the net in 29 of their 33 games - more often than any other team in the Premiership this season, and one more than Celtic.

"The reaction of the players is magnificent," McInnes said. "It's exactly what you want. Nobody's settling for a draw.

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