Kris Boyd has defended Celtic and has little time for the noise around the post-split fixtures, especially the complaints coming out of Tynecastle.
Hearts will play three away matches after the split, including a final-day trip to Celtic Park, while Celtic have three at home and two on the road.
By the end of it, Martin O’Neil’s side will still have a balanced 19 home and 19 away league games.
Still, the timing of fixtures has been another sticking point.
Former Ibrox man Steven Naismith questioned the way the games have been staggered, with Celtic never playing after their closest rivals. Speaking on The Warm-Up alongside Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton, he said:
“On the split, I do think it has it’s advantages and disadvantages.
“Timing of the games, who you are playing and when, but I think for the three teams there is not somebody who is blowing teams away, especially when they take the lead as we have seen in recent fixtures.
“I think there will be twists and turns in it. I think Celtic having two at home out of the first three, Rangers and Hearts having two away out of the first three and when the kick-offs are will play a part.”
Boyd was having none of it. The former Rangers striker cut straight through the complaints:
“Wow, Sutty [Sutton], he sounds as if he has still got that Hearts head on. Moaning and complaining. Come on mate, everyone still has the same teams to play.”
It is hard to argue with the basic point.
Hearts have already had Celtic twice at Tynecastle this season and only once in the east end of Glasgow. The split was always going to even that out.
A final-day trip to Celtic Park, with something potentially on the line, should be one to relish rather than resist.
Instead, some in Edinburgh feel they should be finishing the season at home.
There is a broader context here. The team sitting top at the split often ends the campaign at home, particularly when the title race is all but done. It suits the league and the broadcasters to have a trophy presentation in front of a full stadium.
That luxury has not been there this season.
With Celtic, Rangers and Hearts all still in the mix, the SPFL have had to juggle a far tighter set of variables.
The final round of top-six fixtures have yet to be chosen by Sky Sports, that decision will be made nearer the time. It’ll either be a live broadcast from Celtic Park, or from Falkirk as they host Rangers.
And there is another layer to it.
Celtic have not beaten Hearts this season. That alone adds a bit of edge to the final fixture if it carries weight.
For all the complaints, the reality is straightforward. Everyone knew the permutations going into the split. Everyone knew there would be compromises.
Boyd might have said it with a bit of needle, but he has landed on the truth of it.
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