'Pure theatre puts Hearts on cusp of title fairytale'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. 'Pure theatre puts Hearts on cusp of title fairytale' Image source, SNS By Tom English Scotland's chief sports writer at Tynecastle Published 59 minutes ago For the longest time after the final whistle, Tynecastle sang and Tynecastle danced. Old and young and many in between. Many embracing, a few crying or close to crying, many smiling as they took it in, believing now, believing in a footballing miracle.

Three games to go and a three-point lead over the monied giants on one side of Glasgow and seven over the surely mortally wounded behemoth on the other side. Hearts won not one but two victories in the sun on Monday night - they beat Rangers and in doing so they, effectively, took them out of the title race. Three horses have become two, but Hearts are out in front and show no sign of idling.

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Few left the happy chaos because why would you? If you were a Hearts supporter wouldn't you want to bottle this feeling and drink from it in more difficult times, wouldn't you want to savour every last second? A banner went up behind the goal that Lawrence Shankland scored into to win the game - "keep believing" it read.

With a telescope you could not find a Hearts fan who does not believe now. Leaders Hearts topple Rangers to take seismic leap towards title What a rollercoaster, what an epic ride this was. Trailing at the break, Hearts needed something.

The big screens at Tynecastle flashed with images of divine inspiration - well, Rudi Skacel, which amounts to the same thing around here. Skacel, the whirling dervish, in his pomp, skipping past defenders and rifling shots past goalkeepers, the little wonder tearing it up. Creativity, cheek, goals - an icon at work.

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Watching him was a reminder, not that it was needed, of the paucity of Hearts' performance in the opening half. High on aggression, low on class, through the roof on work-rate and desire but through the floor for composure and accuracy. The league leaders were in trouble - hunting and pressing wasn't enough, not when it was all done with an element of panic and fury.

Hearts wanted a result here like they wanted their next breath but they weren't calm and they had no control. That, for much of the opening half, belonged to Rangers. The visitors needed a win even more than Hearts - anything less and their title bid was dead or dying.

They went about it in a different way, though. What poise that existed out there came from Danny Rohl's team. They dominated midfield, had incisiveness through Mikey Moore and a goal from Dujon Sterling.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.