Heart of Midlothian

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As Celtic struggle in attack and Rangers struggle full stop, questions continue to be raised about whether rampant Hearts can split the Old Firm this season.

Derek McInnes' side secured their fifth Premiership win on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Falkirk, while Celtic dropped points for the second time this season in a goalless draw with Hibernian and Rangers finally took their first win at the sixth attempt.

The Tynecastle club now top the table two points clear of Celtic and nine points ahead of Rangers, who they beat 2-0 at Ibrox earlier this month.

Hearts investor Tony Bloom is adamant the Edinburgh side have a shot of finishing "at least second" and The Herald's Stephen McGowan agrees, saying they should be "fancying their chances."

"I spent an hour with Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay on Friday morning and obviously I was desperately trying to get him to commit to that [becoming realistic title challengers]. But unlike Tony Bloom, he's a bit reluctant," Scottish football writer McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"You can understand that because at this stage, it's only six games gone and it's a 'loose lips sink ships' type ethos.

"There's a feeling among people at Hearts that the time to judge will be after the second round of fixtures when all the teams have played each other both home and away, because then you'll know where you stand and whether it is really a genuine title challenge.

"They're reluctant to say anything that will get pinned up in the dressing walls at Celtic and Rangers at the moment.

"But I think looking at where Rangers and Celtic are and the kind of inner turmoil that seems to be gripping them, Hearts should be fancying their chances.

"It might be too soon for them but they're assembling a good squad, they're in a good place and they should be feeling good about themselves.

"Tony Bloom has been clear in his ambitions. He said he'd be disappointed if they don't get second and disrupt the Old Firm."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Hearts went top of the Scottish Premiership with their 3-0 win over Falkirk and have three players in my team of the week.

Craig Halkett is a steadfast performer at the back for Hearts and someone Derek McInnes can rely on to set the foundation for the Jambos. His goal was the icing on the cake for Hearts on Saturday.

Alexandros Kyziridis scored a magnificent goal. If this had been scored in the English Premier League or La Liga by a household name we would be seeing and hearing about it for years.

A majestic piece of football from the moment he first touched the ball to the moment the ball found the top corner.

If this isn't goal of the season then I'm thoroughly looking forward to whatever beats it.

On another day, Lawrence Shankland's thunderous strike would have got even more kudos. The strike from Kyziridis slightly overshadowed it but the nature of the strike from the Hearts skipper underlined how the real Shankland is well and truly back.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hearts' 3-0 win over Falkirk, which took them to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Watch all the highlights as Hearts moved top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Lawrence Shankland says he was unaware he was on the brink of becoming the SPFL's all-time leading goalscorer until just last week.

The Hearts striker's goal in their 3-0 win against Falkirk on Saturday was his 163rd since the league's formation in 2013, moving him one clear of Rory McAllister at the top of the chart.

"Somebody sent me a photo last week saying I'd equalled it or something," Shankland said.

"It's always nice to get a bit of recognition with these records. It's a reflection of my whole career really. I've spent a lot of time in the SPFL leagues. It's obviously a good number of goals, and I'm always happy to see records like that."

Shankland, who first found the net in the SPFL as a teenager in 2013, admitted the milestone brought back memories of his early days in the game.

"I was such a young kid when I scored my first goal," the 30-year-old added.

"I think I was 16 at the time. Obviously, I kicked on from there, so that's nice."

Shankland's seven goals so far this season have helped propel Hearts to the top of the Scottish Premiership, and the 30-year-old believes the team's form is no surprise.

"There's a positive feel about us," he said.

"Even in the League Cup campaign, we started well and took confidence from that. We've started the league the way we wanted to, with a good amount of wins and points. We just need to keep doing what we're doing. The work rate and attitude we've shown are what's winning us games."

The striker credited the summer arrivals of players like Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga with adding an extra spark to the squad.

"It's just freshness," the striker said.

"New attributes, quality, and pace. You saw Kyziridis score a cracker on Saturday. We've added that throughout the squad and even have strong options off the bench.

"Training has been really positive, and even boys missing out on the squad are pushing hard. That strength in depth is vital."

We asked for your views on Hearts' 3-0 win against Falkirk.

Here's what some of you said:

Mikey: A treat of a performance from Hearts. Solid at the back and venomous going forward. Bring on the Hibs next weekend!

Paul: Fantastic performance and good goals from the team. All we can do is keep on improving and keep on winning. With the depth of squad we have now hopefully injuries, which are inevitable, don't hamper us. Roll on the derby and let natural order resume.

Steven: A very accomplished, all-round performance from Hearts, against a Falkirk side that were very unlucky not to win against Hibs midweek. The 3-0 defeat against Hearts flattered Falkirk and hopefully Hearts will similarly acquit themselves for our next home game, whoever that is.

Jim: I have to say I am getting a little bit excited about Hearts after that match. There is a fluidity to their movements and a growing confidence throughout the team. They are exciting to watch and the new signings are adding a different dimension to our play particularly up front. The next two matches will firm up in most Hearts fans' minds whether we can be considered genuine league challengers but I am beginning to think maybe we will not have to wait ten years for the title to return to Tynecastle.

Fiona: Outstanding! Can we keep it going though? Our next two games will show whether we have the fight or not! But we Jambos are going to enjoy this! Watch out the Jambos are coming.

Chris: Expectation met reality. I was confident going into the game and we didn't care what Falkirk did, we played our own game and it was a very enjoyable match. Individual skills combine to make a very cohesive football team and we were deserved winners with a goal of the season chucked in for good measure. Bring on Hibs!

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Hearts boss Derek McInnes isn't getting carried away with his side's strong start to the season and claims they "haven't earned the right" to be considered title contenders.

The Tynecastle club are two points ahead of Celtic at the top of the Premiership table following their 3-0 win over Falkirk while the Glasgow side were held in a goalless draw at home to Hibernian.

But McInnes refused to get carried away and acknowledged how much work there is to be done before the end of the season.

"Nobody [outwith Hearts], I don't think, genuinely believes we can mount a challenge," the 54-year-old said.

"Nobody for us, on the playing side of it, from the staff, are saying we're going to do this and that, and neither we should.

"We've not earned the right to do that. We've earned the right to feel good about ourselves through working hard. I think we're giving everybody a bit of encouragement and long may that continue.

"Football's tough, it's not easy getting into this place. For players to be playing as well, to be as confident, to get the place as vibrant as that, it takes a lot of hard work.

"I want us to try and stay up at the top end of the table for as long as we can. Of course we do, who wouldn't? But once we're round the first two rounds of fixtures, I think that's when managers, supporters, players can normally get a sense of where they're at."

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Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay believes his club could win the Scottish Premiership "at some point". (Herald - subscription required), external

Celtic captain Callum McGregor plays down Hearts' promising start to the season after the Tynecastle side moved two points above the defending champions at the top of the Premiership, saying: "Anyone can get off to a good start. Aberdeen did it last year." (Record), external

McGregor suggests the table will be more relevant after 36 games rather than six. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Rampant Hearts moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a dominant win over a listless Falkirk at a raucous Tynecastle, as Lawrence Shankland became the SPFL's record goalscorer.

Read the full match report here.

Give us your thoughts on the game here.

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Hearts head coach Derek McInnes tells BBC Sport Scotland: "Yeah, I said at half time, if it was 90 minutes and we were being so strong and so dominant, we'd be really pleased with that, but we're only 45 minutes in, well aware of the spirit that Falkirk have, a team who are used to winning.

"The mentality of the team was strong in the second half, I thought we started like a train again, pounced on the mistakes, upset their rhythm totally, and we got a really powerful goal from [Craig] Halkett.

"We had good chances after that, a combination of some brilliant goalkeeping from Scott Bain, I thought he was terrific today, and us maybe just not making the right choice allowed the game to stay at 3-0, but a clean sheet, brilliant, some strong performances.

"You have to deal with teams, every game is tough, Falkirk are a good side.

"It was the type of performance that I was kind of hoping for more often, particularly here at Tynecastle.

"He's [Shankland] been a consistent performer for a long time, he's been a brilliant performer for the club, it was so important we could keep him."

Hearts fans have adapted Queen's Radio Ga Ga to include Claudio Braga's name in the chorus, and the forward is enjoying the adulation. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts right-back Christian Borchgrevink is back in contention but Ageu (hamstring), Frankie Kent (knee), Craig Gordon (hamstring), Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still out.

Falkirk are unable to field on-loan Hearts defender Lewis Neilson against his parent club, while Kyrell Wilson, Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Coll Donaldson remain sidelined.

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Hearts goalkeeper Liam McFarlane has returned to Alloa Athletic on loan.

The 21-year-old initially joined the League One side in the summer and recorded three clean sheets across eight appearances.

However, he was recalled to Tynecastle as cover after an injury to Ryan Fulton.

McFarlane, who recently signed a new contract with Hearts until 2028, now returns to the Indodrill for the rest of the season.

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Claudio Braga says he is loving the chance to learn from his Hearts strike partner Lawrence Shankland.

Braga, 25, has impressed since signing from Norwegian side Aalesunds in the summer for an undisclosed fee, scoring six goals and contributing two assists in his first 10 appearances.

Scotland striker Shankland is a proven goalscorer in the Scottish Premiership and Portuguese forward Braga thinks they are a natural pairing.

"It's been very good because, of course, for me, he's a player with such good qualities," Braga said.

"I think we complement each other really well, so I try to learn with him. What I'm poor at, he's way better at, so I just try to learn with him a lot. He's also a very good team player.

"Before I came here, I wasn't sure because I didn't know him, but since I came here, he's been helping me a lot.

"Also, trying to play for the team and if the goals come, the goals come. That's so important to have that type of guy playing with you and, of course, with his qualities and with his past and everything.

"It's really good to play with him. He helped me a lot also and hopefully can help me a lot and I can help him a little bit also."

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John McGlynn believes his former club Hearts can "absolutely" provide a long-term challenge to the Old Firm thanks to Tony Bloom's backing.

Falkirk boss McGlynn, 63, was part of the Hearts backroom staff when they last finished in the top two in the Premiership in 2005-06 during Vladimir Romanov's tumultuous ownership.

The Tynecastle side are tied at the top of with Celtic - nine points clear of Rangers - after five matches this term and have the benefit of Brighton owner Bloom's financial investment and expertise.

McGlynn, whose side visit Gorgie on Saturday, said: "Particularly the way they're playing now and the position they've got in the league, it does take you a little bit back to the very start of the Romanov thing [in 2005].

"I think this is going to have much more longevity than that did. They seem to be on a very, very sound footing and have real back-up to what they're doing.

"It's been shown before in that Romanov era where they split the Old Firm and won the Scottish Cup that it's doable.

"It won't be easy and the Glasgow teams are not just going to roll over and let that happen. There's maybe a little bit of none of the two of them being at their best, albeit Celtic are still domestically in a very, very good position, but I think there's still an opportunity there.

"I was at Hearts' first game of the season against Aberdeen at Tynecastle and you could feel the expectation and the excitement they had.

"Now being five games in and being [joint] top of the league, I can see there being the same kind of atmosphere when we go there on Saturday."

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says there are "people dying for us to lose a game". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Derek McInnes is adamant there's no chance of complacency at Hearts as they look to extend an impressive start to the season.

The Tynecastle men - tipped for a top-two finish this season by new investor Tony Bloom - won at Ibrox for the first time in 11 years last time out to stay level with Premiership leaders Celtic on 13 points from five games.

Newly-promoted Falkirk are the visitors to Tynecastle on Saturday, and McInnes said: "There's nobody's feet off the ground.

"We're only a few games into the season. I've said this and I'll continue to say it, you only get a real flavour of where you're at as a club after the first couple of rounds of fixtures.

"If we're through the first couple of rounds of fixtures and we're sitting where we are, we can have a different type of conversation. For me, we just need to knuckle down and get on with the job. The season's in its infancy.

"Although we're getting into October, there's not been a lot of league games. We just need to try and improve.

"The important thing for us is everybody needs to have that responsibility that we need to improve as we go along.

"The expectations are already raised and will raise even more, but we can't do anything about that.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that, to be honest. We just need to focus on winning each game and that's the beauty of working with the players that we've got."

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John McGlynn says he is "quite content" with the way his career has panned out, as the Falkirk manager prepares for his first Premiership match in charge at Tynecastle since losing his job at Hearts in February 2013.

The 63-year-old served on the backroom staff from 1995 to 2006 and returned to the Jambos as manager in 2012, but only spent eight months in charge of the Edinburgh club under erratic owner Vladimir Romanov.

McGlynn has been back to Hearts with Championship clubs Livingston and Raith Rovers, but Saturday will be his first time in the dugout as a Premiership manager.

"For me, after five-and-a-half years at Raith Rovers, it was probably the right time, but it was probably the wrong time to be at Hearts," said McGlynn.

"There was so much change going on, but I probably lasted longer than some. I felt there was pros and cons to it. I can look back at the two [Europa League play-off] games against Liverpool fondly.

"I also look back fondly at getting the team to the League Cup final, which Hearts have got a horrendous record in.

"Our league form wasn't great, we were trying to play good football but getting hit with sucker punches and losing games.

"On the back of winning the Scottish Cup with a 5-1 win against Hibs, there were high expectation but with only half of the Scottish Cup team left, it was always going to be difficult with the brief to bring in younger players because there was obviously no money.

"We did a reasonable job under the circumstances. It's not done me any harm because I'm quite content with what I've done in football and where I am right now.

"I had a lot to thank Hearts for, for the opportunity I was given in the first place. Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown opened the door for me [in 1995] and I got in and had some great times there.

"I don't have any ill feeling or resentment. You just deal with the cards you're dealt."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Hearts host Falkirk in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points:

• Right-back Christian Borchgrevink, who has been sidelined since the Premiership opening day with a thigh injury, is available after coming through a bounce game last week.

• Frankie Kent and Ageu remain out along with Craig Gordon, who has "discomfort" in his hamstring.

• McInnes is not "averse" to changing a winning team and says: "The players are all itching to play their part. Everybody's putting their hand up, wanting to be part of that. I can only pick 11 and sometimes people have to be patient."

• On maintaining a strong bond in his big squad: "There is a togetherness here and we know the importance of having that and spirit. That is manifested through how we work every day and how the players are with each other. I can only drive it and stress the importance of it, but at the same time the players have got to be professional. I won't have players who come into work every day not motivated and not giving their all. There's been none of that since we've come in the door."

• With Hearts joint top of the table, they have "just started what we're setting out to do" this season and McInnes stressed the importance of building on the "strong start".

• "There's nobody's feet off the ground" and McInnes adds: "We're only a few games into the season. You only get a real flavour of where you're at as a club, I think, after the first couple of rounds of fixtures."

• McInnes knows expectations have been raised for Hearts and he doesn't "think there's anything wrong with that," adding: "We just need to focus on winning each game."

• He says the high number of draws in the league so far shows it is "so tough to win games back-to-back" and there is not much "between a lot of the teams".

• McInnes says Falkirk have "looked like a Premiership team for the last 15 months" and it's important they have kept the "core" of their Championship-winning team.

• Bairns manager John McGlynn has "been around the block with a lot of clubs" and "knows what he's doing".

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It may seem like an eternity since Hearts returned home with a welcome victory at Ibrox but those three points could prove to be extremely valuable come the end of the season.

In addition the win maintains the positive vibes emanating from Tynecastle, which also increases the expectations from the stands.

This week when Falkirk come calling and a chance-laden affair should ensue.

Few managers will know more about Tynecastle than John McGlynn. Having joined Hearts in the late 1990s and brought through stalwarts like Scott Severin and Craig Gordon, McGlynn has shown tactical nous when it comes to setting up a team at whichever club he has worked at.

And don't forget the 63-year-old was a vital cog in Celtic's coaching staff under Brendan Rodgers in his first spell at Parkhead before taking the leap back into management with Raith Rovers in 2018.

McGlynn also had a couple of spells in charge of Hearts in the Romanov era so is well versed in the club.

But Derek McInnes and his players look as if they have the belief they can win any game and it will be a major upset if Hearts don't secure victory in front of another sell-out crowd at Tynecastle.

Former Tynecastle favourite Paul Hartley backs Hearts to go the distance in the Scottish Premiership title race. (Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

• This will be the first top-flight meeting between Hearts and Falkirk since February 2010, when the Tynecastle men won 3-2 under Jim Jefferies. Hearts are unbeaten in five against the Bairns at this level (W3 D2).

• Hearts lost both of their home league games against newly-promoted Dundee United last season; they had only lost one of their previous 14 Scottish Premiership home matches versus promoted sides before that (W7 D6).

• Hearts have won eight of their past nine league games (D1), including four of five this season. They have scored 2+ goals in all five league matches this term, last doing so in six top-flight matches on the bounce in December 2016.

• Falkirk won their last away league game at Aberdeen (1-0) and could win successive top-flight league games on the road for the first time since May 2009.

• Hearts' Lawrence Shankland has recorded 10 goal involvements across his past nine Scottish Premiership games (7 goals, 3 assists), with only three players recording more touches in the opposition's box this season than his 26.