McInnes not setting points target with Hearts in ‘great position’

Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts are in “a great position” with nine games of the campaign remaining, insists Derek McInnes, although the head coach is predicting “twists and turns” in a tense title race.

Hearts hold a five-point lead over Celtic, with Rangers one point further adrift and Motherwell 10 behind.

The Edinburgh side, who were last champions of Scotland in 1960, bounced back from defeat at Ibrox with successive 1-0 home wins against Falkirk and Aberdeen.

Celtic managed just one victory from three league outings in that time, while the Old Firm draw was Rangers’ second in a row and Motherwell suffered a surprise loss to Dundee.

“We’re enjoying where we are,” said McInnes, whose side have been out in front for 23 weeks.

“I got asked earlier, ‘how many points do you think it will take’? Nobody knows. We can all surmise and we can guess, but nobody would have guessed that Hearts would be where we are after this length of time.

“We’re in a great position. It’s down to the efforts of the players, how well they’ve done. The focus has been great. The last couple of performances have really pleased us in the sense that we’ve got the desired outcome, but the performances have been good as well.”