The Hearts team arrived back at Tynecastle to a warm reception from hundreds of fans who waved scarves and sang club songs as the bus pulled into McLeod Street.
“Hearts, Hearts, glorious Hearts” echoed around the street despite the club’s 3-1 defeat by defending champions, Celtic, at Parkhead. This makes Celtic 56 times champions of Scotland.
The mood was up-beat in the Capital and no wonder as Derek McInnes and his squad have broken records this season.
They ended the gruelling season on 80 points, two points behind The Hoops, and qualified for the Champions League.
Hearts also split the Old Firm, something investor, Tony Bloom, majority owner and chairman of Premier League club, Brighton and Hove Albion, said he wanted to accomplish.
Many laughed at that statement, but McInnes and his men have achieved that in their first season. What’s more, the accomplishment of the team and coaching staff has been recognised as the head coach has won three major awards.
The exploits of the team from Gorgie have excited media coverage all over the world and their successes, including 250 days at the top of the William Hill Premiership, until Saturday, was the catalyst.
Undoubtedly, the profile of Scottish football, so often derided outside these Borders, has been lifted. Hearts, as their song goes, were “the talk of the toun”.
A costly defeat at Kilmarnock, the loss of a point in the dying minutes of their home clash with lowly Kilmarnock, and a draw at Livingston, were among the points which slipped away and ultimately proved costly. There were, of course, other results which did not go Hearts way.
Celtic came onto form late in the campaign, following the return of Martin O’Neill as manager, following the sacking of Wilfred Nancy after his short stint at the club, and that made a huge difference.
What’s more, a lengthy injury list, including key players, which came late in the season, including defender, Craig Halkett, plus midfielders, Marc Leonard, Tomas Magnusson and Oisin McEntee, did not help the cause of the Capital club.
Indeed, influential midfielder, Beni Beningime, was added to that list on Saturday as he looked to have hamstring problems in the second-half, and was replaced. He looked devastated in his hoodie in the dugout after coming off the pitch.
What is unsavoury is mobile footage on social media emanating from fans who were at Celtic Park as it shows Hearts players being escorted from the pitch by security staff after a fan invasion. Media reports claim that Hearts players “were assaulted”.
Overall, history shows that it is over 40 years – 1985 to be precise when Sir Alex Ferguson guided Aberdeen to the title – since any team out with the Old Firm – Rangers and Celtic – have won the Scottish League and 66 years since Hearts last won the title.
There is always next year, say fans, but the Men in Maroon will have a heavy schedule initially with commitments in Europe to contend with as well as domestic fixtures. That will test resources, but the expectation is now there that Hearts can mount a consistent challenge to the big two from Glasgow.
FERVOUR: Gorgie Road End at Tynecastle, packed and passionate. Picture Nigel Duncan
