Overview

• A 3-0 victory over Falkirk moved Hearts two points clear of Celtic and extended their unbeaten league run under Derek McInnes.
• Hearts beat Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox earlier in the month and now hold a nine-point advantage over them after six matches.
• Investor Tony Bloom has publicly targeted finishing at least second, raising expectations of disrupting the Celtic–Rangers duopoly.
• Analysts urge caution given the small sample of six games, with some suggesting a firmer judgment after the second round of fixtures.
• Summer recruitment delivered immediate returns, with 10 signings via Jamestown Analytics and a combined 10 goals from Alexandros Kyziridis and Claudio Braga, while Lawrence Shankland reached 163 career goals in Scotland.