The Scottish Premiership title race took another twist after a stoppage-time penalty for Celtic left Hearts manager Derek McInnes furious and shifted the balance before the final weekend, with Kelechi Iheanacho’s 99th-minute winner meaning Martin O'Neill's team now trail Hearts by one point going into Saturday’s decider.
The penalty was awarded after referee John Beaton checked the pitchside monitor following a VAR review, with Sam Nicholson penalised for handball despite replays appearing to show the ball striking Nicholson’s head, and Celtic’s late 2-1 victory over Motherwell denied Hearts the chance to reach the last day three points clear.
Had the match at Motherwell finished level, Hearts would have carried a three-point advantage into the final
round as the club chase a first Scottish title in 66 years, while Celtic’s win ensured that any victory for O'Neill's side against Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday will secure the championship.
The title picture has also been assessed by the Opta supercomputer, which gives Celtic a 50.9% chance of finishing champions and rates Hearts at 49.1%, underlining how tight the Scottish Premiership title race has become before the head-to-head meeting that will decide whether the trophy leaves Glasgow for the first time since 1985.
McInnes did not hide frustration with the decision, especially after Hearts were denied two penalties in a 1-1 draw with Motherwell, and the manager said the call at Fir Park made the situation feel increasingly stacked against Hearts despite a 3-0 win over Falkirk that kept the club in contention.
"I shouldn't be commenting on another game, but I knew I was going to get asked the question," said McInnes. "Having seen it, it feels like us against everybody. When you see the two we didn't get at the weekend, and then you see that. How they can arrive at that situation?"
McInnes continued to question the officials involved and the overall standard of decision-making this season, saying: "Celtic are more than a touch fortunate to get that penalty. I'm getting more and more dismayed at some of the decisions our referees are coming up with. It's such a bad decision. Motherwell must feel totally aggrieved. "
The Hearts manager also described how many times the incident had to be replayed before the penalty was given, adding: "I had to keep looking at it because I thought I was missing something. When I was watching it I had to ask 'what I am looking for here?' It's disgusting. "
Earlier on Wednesday, Elliot Watt had put Motherwell ahead in the 17th minute, a goal that briefly placed Hearts on course to seal the Scottish Premiership with one match remaining, and the club still aim to become the first side other than Celtic or Rangers to win the league since Aberdeen in 1985.
Despite clear anger at recent VAR and refereeing calls, McInnes accepted that the title will now be decided in Glasgow and welcomed the scale of the occasion, saying: "We've got that final showdown game so it's perfect for Scottish football," said McInnes. "The drama, the excitement, the spotlight on that, it couldn't be billed any better. We're looking forward to it. We can't wait for the game. "
