By CALUM CROWE

Published: 17:18, 2 March 2026 | Updated: 17:18, 2 March 2026

With only nine games left to play, Hearts are now in the home straight. For the second successive weekend, they extended their lead at the top of the Premiership as others faltered.

The notion that Derek McInnes and his players will finish this season as champions is no longer some kind of far-fetched fantasy.

There is now a genuine belief and expectation among Hearts supporters that their team will go on and see it out from here. History is within their grasp.

You only had to look at some of the pictures and videos on social media from their 1-0 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday to understand the sense of occasion.

Every Hearts home game now feels like an event, almost like a cup final in itself, with the Tynecastle crowd invested unconditionally in the cause of dragging their team to the trophy.

It is worth nothing that Hearts have not lost at home in the league all season. With a six-point lead in their pocket, that home...