Hearts dey one step away from winning Scottish Premiership title for first time since 1960, after dem beat Falkirk 3-0 for Tynecastle. But Celtic still dey alive for race, thanks to a controversial 99th-minute penalty wey dem convert to beat Motherwell 3-2 for Fir Park.
Hearts head coach Derek McInnes talk say im dey disgusted with di penalty decision. ‘When dem dey check a 96th minute penalty, you assume dem [Celtic] dey get am,’ McInnes tell Sky Sports. ‘I no think say e be penalty. If I be Motherwell, I go really disappoint. E too poor and e look as if [Celtic] don get am. Dem very fortunate.’
Celtic match-winner Kelechi Iheanacho tok say im no get words to describe wetin happen. ‘To be fair, I no get words, I no know how, but we don do am. As you dey see, fans still dey shout, and we dey happy, and we get one more to go. We need to come back now and focus on dat. I just keep cool, and e dey scary, but thank God we get di victory, so we dey happy.’
Di penalty wey Iheanacho score for 99 minutes come from handball call against Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson. Kris Boyd, former Rangers striker, tok say ‘E clearly hit im head. If e hit your hand, e go just drop for your foot. Di non-red card for Alistair Johnston against Rangers and now dat tonight. Anoda dubious call wey go for Celtic favour. Questions go dey asked.’
John Beaton, di referee, go check di monitor for only 20 seconds before award penalty. Darren O'Dea, former Celtic defender, tok say ‘Looking at di footage wey we just watch, e make huge contact with Sam Nicholson head because of di trajectory di ball take. I no know how you fit conclusively say dat be handball.’
Hearts do dem own part with comfortable win. Frankie Kent and Cammy Devlin score first half goals, and Blair Spittal add tird. Di result mean say Hearts go face Celtic for Celtic Park on Saturday, and a draw go give dem di title.
Di atmosphere for Tynecastle dey electric as Hearts fans dey dream of title. Di Jambos don remain unbeaten for home dis season, winning 14 and drawing 4 for 18 matches. Dem also don beat Falkirk for di last five meetings.
Falkirk, wey dey bottom of championship group, get little to play for but still go try spoil di party. Dem get 26 points from 19 away games, but don win only one of di last five.
Hearts go miss several injured players including Craig Halkett, Harry Milne, and Craig Gordon. But Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga, wey score 29 league goals between dem, go lead attack.
Di title race go come down to final day. If Celtic beat Hearts, dem go retain di crown. A draw go give Hearts di title for first time in 66 years. Di whole of Scotland dey wait to see wetin go happen.
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