π Share this article The Reasons Hearts' Landmark Championship Challenge Shouldn't Come as a Surprise. HEARTS ON FIRE Perhaps the only unexpected element of Hearts' triumph over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership was just how taken aback observers appeared when reports of the result and its consequences for the summit of the table emerged. Although this convincing victory at Tynecastle, which puts the Jambos leading of the table and eight points ahead of Celtic, was seismic in nature, nobody who has been following the fortunes of either squad this campaign will have been in the least astonished by the final score. Over the last 40 seasons, the dominance of two Glasgow clubs of Celtic and Rangers have carved up the Scottish league between them, turning fitba to something of a joke in the process. Nine games into the current campaign it has become clear that Hearts β who count Stephen Hendry, Sir Chris Hoy and renowned actor among their famous supporters β might just be ready to strike while the Glasgow duo iron is at its weakest. CELTIC'S SLUMP While much of the focus in the Scottish game has been on the absolute bin-fire being suffered by the Ibrox club, the complete turmoil of the situation at Ibrox has meant that Celtic's comparatively less severe decay has been able to fester unnoticed. The defending title winners have already lost 10 points from their opening nine league games this term under Brendan Rodgers. The Celtic manager has acquired the distant look of a individual who can't stop checking his Google calendar to see how many days are remaining until his deal ends, and awoke this morning to learn the number is 246. "I've never worked harder in all my time here," he told the media following the loss, after they had questioned his appetite for anything resembling a championship battle. "So the motivation is there to attempt to reverse the standards that we're at. It's absolutely fine, there is plenty of time." NEW CHALLENGER Given the dreadful start to the campaign being endured by Rangers, Rodgers and his players could typically be anticipated to escape scrutiny for their own failure to roar out of the traps, but this year an capital city challenger has entered the fray. Despite being obliged to operate with a budget that is not just a small portion of Celtic's as a minuscule amount in comparison, the Tynecastle outfit have added the money and expertise of a renowned businessman to the SPL equation. As well as investing ten million pounds during the summer, the Brighton owner has provided Hearts sole use of his top secret data-driven Jamestown Analytics player identification system. In an Irish defender, a Greek talent and ClΓ‘udio Braga it has enabled them to discover unpolished gems from an English lower-league side, the Slovakian top flight and the Norway's second division, among other lesser-known leagues, for the total price of a mid-range family saloon. Seen at their home venue on Sunday wearing a club colours, the notoriously astute professional gambler could be observed cheering each goal with the gusto of a person who had almost certainly noticed the oddsmakers had massively underestimated his side's chances of defeating the struggling champions, and filled his boots accordingly. COACH'S REACTION "I don't think it's a statement win," said bearded team manager the head coach after his team's most recent success, their eighth win in nine league matches. "Perhaps it is for others on the periphery. It could alter opinions. It may confirm opinions that there's a fine line. But let's not kid ourselves, we are delighted with what the players have provided us. Technically, we look in a strong position, and certainly physically we look in a excellent shape, so long may that continue. Naturally, it's not a position that the team is accustomed to being in." No, Derek, it is not. But the glorious, data-driven reality is that for the first time in ages, Scottish football might actually have a championship battle that a team other than Celtic or Rangers can win.