McInnes Tells Title Doubters: 'Don't Dismiss the Jambos – We're Still Top and Loving It!'

Alright, lads, pull up a stool at the pub because Hearts boss Derek McInnes is serving up a cheeky reminder that the Scottish Premiership title race is far from a two-horse sprint. After watching his side get a proper doing – 4-2 at Rangers' Ibrox on Sunday – the gap at the top's shrunk to just two points. Rangers clawed back, and Celtic's cheeky 97th-minute smash-and-grab at Kilmarnock means they'd leapfrog Hearts if they nab their game in hand. But McInnes? He's not sweating. 'People would be wrong to dismiss us,' he says, with 11 games left and the Jambos still perched pretty at the summit.

Picture this: Hearts have just come through a gauntlet that'd make most teams quiver – trips to Tannadice and Ibrox, St Mirren away, the Celtic showdown, and that fiery Edinburgh derby with Hibs. Survive that lot and still be top? McInnes reckoned it'd tee them up nicely for the run-in, and here they are. 'We've not really chatted bouncing back to the players,' he grinned post-match. 'It's in our nature. Football ain't a bed of roses – you dust yourself off and crack on.'

No dwelling on the defeat for this lot. Next up? A home banker against Falkirk at Tynecastle, where Hearts are unbeaten in the league all season. Chuck in four of their six pre-split games at fortress Tynecastle, plus tasty ties against bottom-half strugglers like Aberdeen, Dundee, Livingston and Motherwell. It's like McInnes has peeked at the fixture list and ordered a round of easy pints. 'Relish the opportunity,' he urges. 'We've always known it'd be a scrap, tight as a drum. But with our home form? We're primed to make hay.'

And get this – even as the games tick down, McInnes isn't feeling the heat on his shoulders. Why? Because it's been 41 years since a non-Old Firm side last lifted the Premiership trophy. Claudio Braga, the St Mirren loanee who bagged one in the Ibrox loss alongside Marc Leonard, symbolises this underdog vibe. 'No real pressure on us,' McInnes chuckles, nodding to Braga's comments. 'Just enjoy it. Nobody likes a loss, but keep the form we've shown, and we'll be in the final furlong mix.'

Sky Sports' Gordon Duncan nailed the weekend's drama in his rundown, pondering where the title tilt pivots next. Celtic and Rangers might be eyeing each other after their big wins, but McInnes is having none of it. 'It's not just them battling,' he fires. 'Write us off at your peril.' With that rock-solid home record and a kinder schedule, Hearts could yet turn this into the mother of all pub debates come May.

Here's the pre-split roadmap for the leaders:

• Falkirk (H) – Saturday

• Aberdeen (H) – Feb 28

• Kilmarnock (A) – Mar 14

• Dundee (H) – Mar 21

• Livingston (A) – Apr 4

• Motherwell (H) – Apr 11

Eleven games to glory. McInnes sees a 'brilliant opportunity' – and if you're not backing the Jambos to keep the dream alive, well, you're probably the one needing a reality check. Slàinte to that!