Livingston boss David Martindale tips Hearts to win Premiership title race

Livingston boss David Martindale has tipped Hearts to win this season’s Premiership title.

Derek McInnes’ Jambos are top of the table, four points clear of resurgent Rangers and six points ahead of champions Celtic.

Martindale’s Lions have faced every team in the league twice and he feels Hearts – buoyed by the involvement of Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics – are best equipped to go the distance and end the Old Firm’s 40-year duopoly of the Scottish top flight.

“Hearts, I think they’re the team,” said the Livi boss. “I think Hearts have showed over the course of the season real consistency. I look at their squad. I look at Del (McInnes)…

“And I want it to be Hearts. I want it for Scottish football, I want it for them. We all moan about Rangers and Celtic winning the league every year – is this (Hearts being top) not brilliant?

“Everybody’s saying ‘oh, the Old Firm aren’t playing well’, but Hearts have been doing magnificent.

“I know a lot of the Hearts players, I know a lot of the Hearts staff. I think it’s a fantastic football club that have now got a real good structure upstairs and downstairs. I think they’ve got a real, real chance.

“Take my Livingston hat off and the fact I grew up a Rangers fan. I love Scottish football, and for Scottish football, I think it’d be brilliant if Hearts can go and win this league.

“I thought it was magnificent when Leicester did it in the English Premiership, and I think Hearts have got more than enough to do that. I think they’ve shown that against the Old Firm.”

Fourth-placed Motherwell have also defied expectations this term and although 11 points behind Hearts, Martindale believes they could finish ahead of at least one of the Glasgow sides.

“It’ll be an interesting 1, 2, 3, 4 this year because I don’t think you can just nail Motherwell on for being fourth,” he said. “I think they could split the Old Firm as well. I also think Rangers have given themselves a wee outside chance as well, and Celtic under Martin (O’Neill) have showed probably more consistency, but I’ll go for Hearts.”