Scottish Premiership: Can Hearts bounce back as Old Firm lurk?

For all their struggles this season – both on and off-field – Celtic appear to be hitting form at the right time.

Under interim manager Martin O’Neill, the Parkhead outfit won away in Stuttgart in the Europa League, drew 2-2 at Rangers in the league before knocking their Glasgow rivals out of the Scottish Cup on penalties.

They then saw off the challenge of Motherwell in front of their own fans on Saturday, no mean feat given the way Jens Berthel Askou has got the Steelmen playing this term.

“Right now, Celtic have the better momentum of the three,” Lovenkrands said.

“With [Hearts] losing three away games in a row and Celtic closing the gap, Hearts are in a tough position.

“Rangers have got the better fixtures in the next two games, so it could go anywhere.”

Hearts host Dundee and Motherwell either side of a trip to Livingston before the split, Celtic are away to both Dundee sides before hosting St Mirren, while Rangers host Aberdeen and Dundee United before going to Falkirk.

Celtic have kept themselves in the hunt despite injuries to key players this season and Allan believes that adversity will have built strength in the Parkhead camp.

“Celtic have missed Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter Vickers, Jota and still ground out results,” he said. “To go without [Callum] McGregor and [Kieran] Tierney to Ibrox and still take the result, that’s a winning dressing room.

“I think they have something that the others don’t.”

Indeed, when asked who they were backing to top the table on 16 May, both pundits agreed.

“If I’m putting money on it, Celtic,” Allan said.

“I’m the same,” Lovenkrands responded. “Before this weekend, I thought Hearts were the ones to lose it, but now, I think it’s swung towards Celtic.”