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Scottish football is on the cusp of a feat that has been described as \u201cincomprehensible\u201d for 41 years and an Australian is at the centre of it.<\/p>\n
Edinburgh-based club Hearts of Midlothian are top of the Scottish Premiership table with four games remaining and have the chance to finally break the Celtic-Rangers duopoly.<\/p>\n
\ufeffGet all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n No one has beaten the Old Firm since Sir Alex Ferguson took Aberdeen to the title in 1985 before his legendary days at Manchester United.<\/p>\n There is only one active player in the Scottish Premiership who was alive before the Celtic-Rangers stranglehold began – Hearts\u2019 43-year-old reserve goalkeeper Craig Gordon.<\/p>\n Many in Scottish football have scoffed at past suggestions that the two Glasgow Goliaths could be toppled by David.<\/p>\n But now Hearts fans are daring to dream.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be incomprehensible,\u201d 61-year-old Hearts fan Stuart Wallace told The Telegraph<\/a> when asked about the prospect of winning the title while having a drink in a pub in Edinburgh Old Town before last weekend\u2019s derby in the Scottish capital. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s absolute immortality. They would never be forgotten. They\u2019ll be talking about in 100 years.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Game for the ages!\u2019: Football world loses its mind over historic NINE-goal CL semi epic<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Legendary manager tipped to make bombshell return as great\u2019s reply reignites old feud<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018You cheating b******s\u2019: Tempers flare over \u2018keeper controversy in heated FA Cup semi<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n STATE OF PLAY<\/b><\/p>\n Hearts are three points clear of Celtic on 73 points, while Rangers are four points back after a 3-2 loss at home to fourth-placed Motherwell on the weekend.<\/p>\n Rangers travel to Hearts\u2019 Tynecastle Park in the early hours of Tuesday morning Australian time with the league leaders having the chance to effectively eliminate one of their title rivals.<\/p>\n Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd told Sky Sports: \u201cRangers have to go there and win, or it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n What makes the march to the finish line all the more challenging in the Scottish Premiership is \u2018the split\u2019.<\/p>\n After 33 games, the 12-team competition is split into two with the top six in Group A and the bottom six in Group B.<\/p>\n Each team plays the other members of their group once to determine the title, European place and relegation.<\/p>\n Points carry over and it means when things are tight, every game becomes crucial and anything can happen.<\/p>\n Depending on how things play out, Hearts\u2019 trip to Celtic Park on the final day could effectively be a grand final against the club who have won the last four league titles – including two under Australian manager Ange Postecoglou.<\/p>\n Hearts, who bare the nicknames \u2018The Jam Tarts\u2019 or \u2018The Jambos\u2019, know that winning away is the big test of their title credentials.<\/p>\n They are unbeaten at home this season, but made a huge step forward at Easter Road in the Edinburgh Derby against Hibernian last weekend.<\/p>\n The battle of the fierce rivals exemplified a shift in Scottish football.<\/p>\n Fans rejoiced in the stands when it was announced that it would be shown live on TV. <\/p>\n The match was played at 4.30pm on a Sunday and shown on the main channel of a major broadcaster – a rare occurrence for a non Celtic or Rangers match.<\/p>\n Socceroo Martin Boyle opened the scoring for Hibs with an excellent volley at the back post and threatened to take points from Hearts.<\/p>\n Hibs were reduced to just nine men for much of the second half.<\/p>\n Hearts were able to respond through an own goal shortly after the hour mark before Blair Spittal\u2019s 86th minute winner sparked wild scenes in the away end.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about can someone come up with the big moment? Blair Spittal scores goals like that every day in training,\u201d Hearts manager Derek McInnes said post-game. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got such good quality of finishing. He should score more goals. A lot of people could slap that and snatch at it. He keeps his knee over the ball, stays calm, side foots it and it could be such an important goal.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018The maddest ever\u2019: Utter chaos as pitch invasion allows 103rd-minute promotion sealer<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffWild $660m truth behind football\u2019s unthinkable rise… and how PL dream becomes Hollywood reality<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Rattled\u2019: Inside PL\u2019s most ridiculed doom spiral… and last hope for genius who \u2018lost his s**t\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n THE AUSSIE<\/b><\/p>\n Cammy Devlin missed the derby with what McInnes described as a \u201cwee strain\u201d.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old, who has been capped on four occasions by the Socceroos, was superb in the first half of the season.<\/p>\n He scored in an earlier Edinburgh derby, and is a key player in the heart of midfield, even donning the captain\u2019s armband on two occasions this campaign.<\/p>\n But Devlin has been more of an observer in recent times.<\/p>\n He spent eight games on the sidelines with an ankle injury before this latest setback.<\/p>\n Although, McInnes appeared confident that it was nothing major and Devlin will be a chance to take on Rangers.<\/p>\n If he can stay fit for the coming four games, the Sydneysider can fulfil several of his childhood dreams.<\/p>\n As well as a possible league title, Devlin could play his way into Tony Popovic\u2019s World Cup squad.<\/p>\n He could also ensure that next season he gets the chance to play in Europe\u2019s top competition.<\/p>\n \u201cI think growing up as an Aussie from the other side of the world the Champions League is something you would wake up at four or five in the morning to watch on the telly,\u201d Devlin said last month upon recovering from his ankle setback.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think that\u2019s a massive, massive carrot because that would be a dream come true for not just me, but for any player that is here I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of right now my focus is on just getting back fit, playing for Hearts, seeing what we can do, and then I\u2019m sure that stuff will come into play at the end of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Champions League would be so special, so cool, and something we believe we can do. So fingers crossed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working ever so hard to make it happen. There\u2019s a lot of twists and turns left in this title race and the fact I can say we\u2019re a part of it is cool in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Devlin\u2019s words gain more meaning when Hearts fans reflect back to more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n Roo Radar \u2014 Goal freak won\u2019t stop in huge WC statement; Aussie young gun\u2019s stunning Premier League nod<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeffUgly spats and heroes scared to walk streets \u2014 How 5000-1 dream turned to \u2018calamity\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n