No data
Hearts are now in a position that no-one thought they would be in at this stage of the season. There were 18 teams in what was then called Scottish League Division One. Only 34 matches were played, with each team playing every other twice.That season Hearts won 23 of their 34 matches and lost only three times - to Kilmarnock and Motherwell on the road, with a solitary home defeat against St Mirren the only blemish at Tynecastle.
Falkirk match-winner Henry Cartwright insists pushing on for a fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership would be "massive" for the club. The 1-0 Scottish Premiership home victory over Motherwell closed the gap to Hibernian above them to two points, leaving Falkirk with a potential shot at European football next season.
Defeat means Hibernian remain sixc poitns behind fourth-placed Motherwell and with an inferior goal difference, but Gray says the team have to do what they can in theri remaining three games, and be aware Falkirk are intent on leapfrogging them. "We still want to achieve the same thing," he said.
Motherwell fans, we asked for your views on the 1-0 loss to Falkirk on Saturday. Alan: Falkirk seem to be our bogey team and we have failed to capitalise on many opportunities we have had against them. Taylor: Fair play to Falkirk, they've had our number this season and were the better team.
Former Hearts and Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday suggests Rangers may have to "throw caution to the wind" at Tynecastle on Monday. The Motherwell midfielder, who played for both Rangers and Hearts, feels Emmanuel Longelo's late goal against Danny Rohl's side last weekend has totally changed to dynamic ahead of Monday's game. The sides had been level at Ibrox with 20 minutes to play on Sunday but Longelo's 90th minute goal took all three points for Jens Berthel Askou's team and pushed Rangers four points behind the league leaders.
Hibs head coach David Gray says the club must keep pushing for a European place despite the odds being stacked against them. Fourth-place Motherwell's win at Ibrox last weekend moved them six points clear of Hibs, who lost to Hearts. With just four games left Gray knows time is running out for his team to achieve their objective, but – with the two sides due to meet at Easter Road on the last day of the season – he still believes they have a chance.
Scott Allan knows a Hearts title win is the "worst nightmare" of Hibs fans - but insists David Gray's players will have no thoughts of taking it easy against Celtic on Sunday. A win for Celtic at Easter Road would move them level on points with Hibs' Edinburgh rivals Hearts at the top. Hibs still have their own targets to chase, with Motherwell six points clear in fourth, which is the final guaranteed European spot.
Motherwell left-back Emmanuel Longelo has scored eight times in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most non-penalty goals by a defender in a single campaign in the competition since James Tavernier in 2022-23 (also 8). Falkirk are unbeaten in five league meetings with Motherwell (D3 L2) since a 1-0 defeat in October 2009. Motherwell are winless in six league visits to Falkirk (D3 L3), scoring just one goal in that run since a 2-1 victory in February 2007.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
