Scottish Premiership: How realistic is a non-Old Firm title challenge?

Following the dreary derby stalemate at Ibrox, many were starting to feel Tony Bloom’s bullish comments were not so outlandish.

Last month, the Brighton & Hove Albion owner, who now has a 29% stake in Heart of Midlothian, said the Tynecastle club have a “very good chance of at least being second” this campaign.

The Gorgie side are making use of Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics software, which proved integral in Union Saint-Gilloise’s remarkable rise to become Belgian top-flight champions for the first time in 90 years just last season.

Despite that, Bloom’s bold remarks were predictably sneered at across the country.

A month later, Celtic and Rangers played out one of the worst Old Firm derbies in living memory off the back of their own European humiliations.

Martin’s men failed to have a shot on target in the match. Brendan Rodgers’ side had just two.

On the evidence of that contest alone, there should be nothing to frighten non-Old Firm teams when facing Glasgow’s big two this term.

And it was Bloom’s fearlessness that caught the eye when he declared Hearts are in a position to challenge now.

That is also the view of former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, who told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast: “At the start of the season, I said it was probably going to be a one-horse race. Now I think it’s potentially a two, maybe even a three, if you look at what Hearts have done.”

Well, what have Hearts done?

As well as recruiting 10 new faces with the influence of Bloom’s Jamestown model, they have appointed a head coach in Derek McInnes whose vast experience in Scottish football includes pushing Celtic for titles with Aberdeen.

In four straight seasons between 2014-15 and 2017-18, McInnes’ Dons finished as runners-up in the Premiership.

This term, his Hearts team have needed late goals and comebacks to take 10 points from their opening four league games, but that tally leaves them level with a Celtic side who are top on goal difference.