Following the dreary derby stalemate at Ibrox, many were starting to feel Tony Bloom’s bullish comments were not so outlandish.
Last month, the Brighton & Hove Albion owner, who now has a 29% stake in Heart of Midlothian, said the Tynecastle club have a “very good chance of at least being second” this campaign.
The Gorgie side are making use of Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics software, which proved integral in Union Saint-Gilloise’s remarkable rise to become Belgian top-flight champions for the first time in 90 years just last season.
Despite that, Bloom’s bold remarks were predictably sneered at across the country.
A month later, Celtic and Rangers played out one of the worst Old Firm derbies in living memory off the back of their own European humiliations.
Martin’s men failed to have a shot on target in the match. Brendan Rodgers’ side had just two.
On the evidence of that contest alone, there should be nothing to frighten non-Old Firm teams when facing Glasgow’s big two this term.
And it was Bloom’s fearlessness that caught the eye when he declared Hearts are in a position to challenge now.
That is also the view of former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, who told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast: “At the start of the season, I said it was probably going to be a one-horse race. Now I think it’s potentially a two, maybe even a three, if you look at what Hearts have done.”
Well, what have Hearts done?
As well as recruiting 10 new faces with the influence of Bloom’s Jamestown model, they have appointed a head coach in Derek McInnes whose vast experience in Scottish football includes pushing Celtic for titles with Aberdeen.
In four straight seasons between 2014-15 and 2017-18, McInnes’ Dons finished as runners-up in the Premiership, albeit Rangers were not in the top flight for three of those campaigns.
This term, his Hearts team have needed late goals and comebacks to take 10 points from their opening four league games but that tally leaves them level with a Celtic side who are top on goal difference.
With a trip to Rangers to come on Saturday, a rare win at Ibrox would be a statement from McInnes’ men.
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