Hearts Star Admits Anger Over Celtic Title Collapse

By
Michael Shearer
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Celticfc player Tomas Cvancara
25th January 2026; Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hearts versus Celtic; Craig Halkett of Heart of Midlothian gets a hold of Tomas Cvancara of Celtic as they go for the ball

Craig Halkett has reflected on Hearts’ final-day title defeat at Celtic Park, admitting the squad were left frustrated by how the closing week of the season unfolded.

The defender missed the decisive match after rupturing his Achilles against Motherwell, leaving him unable to play as Hearts tried to secure the draw they needed to win the Premiership.

Celtic went on to turn the game around late and take the title, completing a dramatic comeback under Martin O’Neill.

Speaking in an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News, Halkett admitted Hearts had felt the league was within reach.

He said: “It was hard because you felt like it was supposed to happen.”

Hearts had gone into the final round in a strong position, but their hopes unravelled during a difficult run.

Halkett said: “We were angry, not just about the way that game finished but maybe about how the first couple of weeks leading up to it had gone.

“I think it was just a combination of loads of things not going our way. It was hard not to feel a wee bit angry and frustrated.”

3EFRAN2 Tempers flare between Heart of Midlothian’s Lawrence Shankland and Celtic’s Daizen Maeda during the William Hill Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 16, 2026.

The Edinburgh side had concerns over refereeing decisions in the build-up to the Celtic match, while injuries also affected their options at a crucial stage of the campaign.

Halkett added: “During that last week of the season, everything that could have gone against us did go against us.”

Despite that frustration, the centre-back accepted setbacks are part of football and stopped short of making excuses for the final outcome.

He said: “Things can go for the other team as well, but that’s football. That’s just what happens and you’ve got to take it on the chin.”

For Celtic, the final day brought the kind of ending few could have imagined earlier in the season.

3EFRPKH Celtic’s Callum McGregor with the Scottish Premier League Trophy following his sides title deciding match against Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park. Picture date: Saturday May 16, 2026.

O’Neill’s side had looked out of the race at one stage, but they fought their way back into contention and took their chance when it mattered most.

Halkett’s comments offer a clear picture of how difficult that defeat was for Hearts, particularly after they had gone into the final fixture with the title in their own hands.

Celtic, though, found the late goals they needed and finished the season as champions.

7 COMMENTS

  1. Celtic have had plenty of bad decisions over many years” but the last seven games we won hearts did not that how we became champions winning .No favours from anyone we just won sounded again like sour grapes maybe blame mcinnes tactics his shat the be at park head went for a draw lost.

  2. You used the term frustration in your title, which is a bit different from anger.
    However, HEARTS were simply not good enough and proved how astonishingly bigoted they are and how and pathetic they are.

  5. The only people tgat felt nearly as bad as you were the Celtic board, their plan through selling and not replacing players didnt work

    • This comment doesn’t make sense. I thought the Board were in it for whatever they are in it for, comlng second won’t do it.

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