Celtic: Martin O’Neill believes Hearts can be regular title contenders

O’Neill gave Hearts “great credit” for “going into it strongly and being able to stay there” and said Sunday’s clash between Celtic and Rangers would no longer be seen as a title showdown.

Rangers are seven points behind league leaders and four behind defending champions Celtic, while second place still earns a shot at Champions League qualification.

“Rangers are a lot of points behind Hearts now,” said O’Neill.

“We are talking about three games left, so it will be difficult to overcome it at this particular stage.

“It’s not impossible, it can happen. The Games are still very difficult matches for all of us.”

The Celtic manager added Hearts’ superior goal difference lends them if their current advantage can carry over to the final game of the season at Celtic Park.

“I think I was looking for a draw (between Hearts and Rangers). A draw is very, very hard to be happy about, but it would have put us in our own hands then,” said the Northern Irishman.

“As it turns out, mathematically speaking, it’s actually not in our hands.

“But credit to the team, we’re still fighting, we’ve still got a chance – there’s no question about that.”