Hearts' position at the top of the Premier Division owes as much to their own extraordinary improvement as it does to the Old Firm's vulnerability against supposedly lesser sides.

After 17 matches the Tynecastle side have dropped 14 points. At the corresponding stage last season, they had lost 30. However, the 1-0 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead, means they have now lost all three of their games against the Old Firm. The Glasgow giants have been fallible against lesser sides and from the evidence so far, it seems that Hearts are unlikely to slide out of contention.

Celtic's victory, with a goal from Craig Burley ten minutes from the finish, was certainly deserved on a day when they exerted most of the pressure and created many more scoring opportunities. Jonathan Gould, their goalkeeper, was not called upon to make a single save in the game.

The result gave Rangers a golden opportunity to regain the leadership, but their scoreless draw at Dunfermline simply confirmed how diminished they are without Paul Gascoigne (suspended) and Brian Laudrup (injured). The champions have to visit Hearts on Saturday, allowing Celtic fans to dream of another profitable day.