What a difference a week makes.
The feeling amongst the Heart of Midlothian support has improved immeasurably, seven days on from when the lead at the top had narrowed to two points following defeat at Kilmarnock.
The 1-0 win over Dundee, the return of Lawrence Shankland and then Celtic’s eighth defeat of the league season on Sunday meant Hearts ended the weekend with an extended lead – now three points over Rangers – going into the international break.
The nature of the win was notable. 1-0.
In the first 19 games of the season, Hearts won 1-0 once – against Hibs. In the 12 games since the turn of the year, Hearts have won 1-0 six times.
‘1-0 to the Hearts’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’.
It was George Graham’s Gunners who identified with the gritty 1-0 and it is Hearts who are making it the staple of the second half of the season and the title run-in.
It might not be ideal for the stress levels amongst the support, especially with five of the six 1-0s this year coming at Tynecastle Park. But it is that ability to find a way to win, to get the three points over the line, and an unbeaten home record, that has ensured Hearts have led the league at the end of the last seven months.
Derek McInnes spoke about making Tynecastle a place fans enjoy coming on a Saturday afternoon and one where the opposition fans dread. That has materialised, even if that enjoyment has come with an increase in blood pressure.
But it is not as if Hearts have been getting in front, shutting up shop and sitting on their lead. In the seven home games since the turn of the year, Hearts have outshot the opposition 113 to 59 and the xG has been more than double the opposition's at 11.06 to 5.22.
That should be looked at in two ways. Hearts are still very much an attacking team. Also, as a collective, the team are doing really well defensively. They have kept eight clean sheets in the last 12 in the league. The four conceded at Rangers is an outlier.
"We're going to be top of the league in April, we're huge underdogs. It's a fact that we're underdogs, but for us still to be where we are, churning out victories, as we did again, there's a lot to be said for 1-0 victories," McInnes said.
"We'd like it to be easier, I'm not going to make any apologies for it, because I feel the same anxiety. I want to win a game 2-0 and enjoy the game a wee bit more, but I enjoy the winning. The enjoyment part comes from the winning, sometimes out there it's not easy, but for me and the staff, it's your job to keep the players on an even keel when the players have dealt with games brilliantly."
Should Hearts have made games more comfortable for themselves? They've certainly had the chances and opportunities to do so.
It perhaps comes down to a combination of decision-making in key moments, a drop-off in effectiveness from set pieces and missing the team's best player and most threatening and creative forward in Lawrence Shankland.
Enough hasn't been made of Hearts losing key players.
Since the turn of the year, McInnes has, at different times, been without his talismanic striker; as well as Cammy Devlin, who was the best midfielder in the league prior to injury; his midfield partner Beni Baningime; Oisin McEntee's versatility and presence; Stephen Kingsley, who is one of the most important squad players; Stuart Findlay, a key lieutenant; and record-breaking signing Ageu.
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Those seven have missed a combined 46 games since the start of the 2026.
Then on Saturday, McInnes wasn't able to call on Harry Milne and then lost Craig Halkett before the warm-up had even started. It is not the first time McInnes has had to deal with disruption, whether it be on the eve of the game or right before kick-off.
And there have been a fair few weeks when the Hearts head coach has not been able to commit to an XI until late in the week because of injury concerns.
Yes, Hearts have a large squad, but there are a number who are either still adapting to the demands of Hearts and Scottish football or legacy players who are now squad players. And then, in terms of the financial outlay on the squad, it pales in comparison to Celtic and Rangers. It should be repeated, Rangers have spent £50 million this season alone.
Yet, here they are, still top of the Scottish Premiership, having dealt with a difficult stretch of games without key players.
The return of Shankland and Devlin, Milne, Halkett, Kingsley, Findlay and Tomas Magnusson for the run-in is massive. It is the spine of the team that started the season so successfully.
It is why McInnes believes his Hearts side are only going to get stronger after the international break.
By then, away to Livingston, there are just seven games to go. Seven games between Heart of Midlothian and one of the most special and memorable Scottish top-flight title wins in Scottish football history.
What a difference a week makes.
