Is one of the most embarrassing records in European – or World – football under threat? A little over forty years ago ago a provincial club from the North East of Scotland took on the most successful team in European history and came out on top. Aberdeen Football Club, under the stewardship of a certain Alex Ferguson, defeated Real Madrid after extra time on a memorable night in Gothenburg. Two years later the most successful period in the club’s history concluded with a Scottish Premier Division victory, finishing ahead of Celtic and Dundee United.
Little did anyone know that that 1985 title win would be the very last time any club outwith Celtic and Rangers would win the League. Forty years. Forty whole sad years. Embarrassing.
In that time, forty Championships contested, Celtic have won twenty-two times and Rangers eighteen. Add twenty-two and eighteen together and what do we have? FORTY. That’s right. Forty times clubs have tried to end the duopoly and failed miserably.
‘Tried’ is a strong word. During that period of utter dominance, only fifteen times have anyone outwith the two Glasgow clubs finished in second place. Genuine title attempts have been few and far between. Hearts FC in 1997-98 and again in 2005-06, which brings us nicely to this very season and the Edinburgh club’s current question:
Can Heart of Midlothian really challenge for the league and come out on top?
After the first round of fixtures – eleven matches – we’re in a position to review this, while dreaming a little, to see if the challenge is a realistic one.
At the risk of getting way ahead of ourselves and in the knowledge of the aforementioned Aberdeen’s collapse last season, Hearts have everyone talking. They should talk too.
The maroon-clad club were promised a glorious future when Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom completed his investment in the club over the summer. Ten years he said. That’s when we could expect the club to challenge for – or even win – the Scottish Premier league. He said what he said. He meant it. Right now proves it. You only have to look at the incredible success Bloom has had down at Brighton. His new club were promised the same resources and the same contacts to bring success to Edinburgh.
The summer transfers came in their numbers, from all across the globe. No big names. No marks. Sourced using the most advanced technology in the transfer market today though. Braga, Kyziridis, Ageu, Kabore and many more who have been catalysts in Hearts’ surge to their current nine point lead at the top of the league.
Unbeaten after the first eleven matches which has taken in both sides of the Old Firm, winning against each, has given pundits and fans alike something different to talk about. Opening the season with a tricky opening victory against Aberdeen at Tynecastle Park, followed by an injury time winner at Tannadice, the following week Hearts showed their immense resolve with an incredible fightback against Motherwell. 3-0 down with half an hour to play, the home side pulled it back to level. Indeed they could have taken all three points late on but settled for the 3-3 draw. Another last minute winner followed with a win at Livingston.
A very awkward fifth match of the season presented itself with a trip to Rangers. Traditionally a very difficult place to visit and one Hearts had not overcome in eleven years. This is where tradition and modern met head on with a comfortable 2-0 victory for the away side.
Unbeaten after five games had the country chattering and they still were when a sixth game without a loss was duly recorded in style against Falkirk. Yet another late late winner secured an Edinburgh Derby win, followed swiftly by a thumping 3-0 win at Kilmarnock.
The biggest and hardest test of the season so far dawned with the visit of Celtic to Tynecastle. The home side went into the game with a sense of superiority against the out of sorts Glaswegians. An early own goal set their stall out but was quickly cancelled out. Second half strikes secured a very impressive victory to go a mammoth eight points clear at the top
Three days later in the midweek rain at St Mirren murmurs of bubbles bursting were abound as Hearts dropped two points in a 2-2 draw. Disappointment and being brought back down to earth, but when the dust had settled, the result was a decent one at a tricky venue. To show there was no bursting of any bubbles, their biggest win of the season was recorded three days on against Dundee with a 4-0 victory.
Eleven games in, nine wins, two draws, zero losses… more goals scored than any other team. Is the dream possible? Will there be an Aberdeen-esque collapse?
Forty years on from the last non-Old Firm League winner. No other major footballing nation has a record so horrendously poor. Are we witnessing history? Time will tell…
A long way to go. Nerves.
Where’s a Leicester City fan when you need one?…,
