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This video can not be played Hearts, Falkirk & Motherwell overachieving - Mc Innes Hearts manager Derek Mc Innes sees no psychological advantage in any team playing before their Scottish Premiership title rivals. Rangers, who sit second, three points behind the Edinburgh side, host Dundee United on Saturday (15: 00 BST) before Hearts visit Livingston on Sunday (14: 00), while third-placed Celtic take on hosts Dundee later that day (16: 30). The Ibrox side have better goal difference and goals scored columns than Hearts before this weekend's fixtures. "Ourselves, regardless of the results going into the split, we'll be in a good, decent position going into it but the whole psychological thing is quite fascinating, " said Mc Innes, with seven league games remaining. Is Scottish Premiership title race set for fresh twist? Visit our Hearts page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views "Everybody else gets caught up in it all, it's great to comment on it and there's been loads of comment this season on the league, and that can only be a good thing. "It's all quite fascinating really, but for us, we all play the same games and you've just got to deal with each game as it comes along, I've never really gone into any game thinking, we can psychologically damage another team, or I feel that we're going to be damaged by teams playing before us. "I don't think that way, I don't think we can allow ourselves to think that way, it's just all about trying to deal with the next game. " Bottom side Livingston are 12 points adrift and have only won once in the Premiership this season. However, Livi did hold Rangers to a 2-2 draw in February and were 2-0 up at one stage. "Having seen Livingston over the last wee while, it's a tough enough game for us to be thinking about anything else other than just a good performance to help us win the game, " added Mc Innes. Celtic have lost eight league games, with interim manager Martin O'Neill conceding any more dropped points would make it "difficult - but not impossible" for the defending champions. While Rangers can knock Hearts off top spot for the first time since September on Saturday, Mc Innes says it would be "foolish" to rule out the club, who have celebrated 13 of the past 14 titles. Asked if he still viewed Celtic as a threat, Mc Innes responded: "One hundred per cent. You wouldn't discount a Martin O'Neill Celtic team at any juncture. "They're a good side, they've got good players and they've been over the course. I think they've got a fantastic manager. "There's still a lot of football to be played and I think anybody ruling Celtic out would be foolish. " As Hearts chase a first title since 1960, Mc Innes argued that no other team in Europe is upsetting the odds in the same way. "We've been elevated into a position that probably nobody thought we could be at this stage of the season, " he said. "When you look across Europe, for a team to have the disparity in wages and spending power against the other two [Celtic and Rangers], it's so unusual. "We're there, we're enjoying it and we just need to try and keep maintaining our good work for the rest of the campaign. " Italy and Gattuso 'mutually terminate' contract Chelsea's Fernandez dropped after 'crossing a line' The thorny issues facing F1 over racing, qualifying and safety Doctor Foster's seemingly perfect life unravels Are LISAs still worth investing in? Thrilling dark comedy starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick How Manchester rebuilt itself through sound 'Aberdeen savour the most perfect game ever played' How Mc Tominay became a Napoli icon after Man Utd exit Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland? From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs The thorny issues facing F1 over racing, qualifying and safety What De Zerbi needs to do to turn Tottenham around Football quiz: Name every club in the Premier League and EFL What were the biggest moves of NFL free agency? The 'Swiss Leicester' closing on their first title The remarkable rise of Tuchel's English assistant Is success crucial? BBC Sport experts pick their player of the season Mc Cabe avoids red after hair pull on Thompson. Video Mc Cabe avoids red after hair pull on Thompson From You Tube to real life: why Hashtag United want to go down 'Scotland fans can fret - but they need to keep perspective too' Angry Wales boss Bellamy shows his new old self Why Sky's TV picks are causing a massive headache for match-going fans Mary Rand - the trailblazing Olympic champion Fabregas, film stars and Disney: How Como are disrupting Italian football. Video Fabregas, film stars and Disney: How Como are disrupting Italian football Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
