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Hearts’ winning streak raises questions about their championship potential

A late derby victory over Hibernian has propelled Heart of Midlothian six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, prompting questions about whether the team is exhibiting the characteristics of a title-winning side.

In a thrilling Edinburgh derby, Tomas Magnusson scored the decisive goal for Hearts, securing a late victory against Hibernian at Tynecastle.

Highlights from the match between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian are available for viewing.

For the second time, Heart of Midlothian has emerged victorious in a derby match with a late goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy and prompting an ecstatic celebration from manager Derek McInnes, who was seen interacting with a ball boy.

Tomas Magnusson's goal in the 88th minute against Hibernian has given Hearts' title bid a significant boost, making their challenge for the top spot more credible as the season progresses.

This is not the first instance of Hearts producing a dramatic late goal to ignite the passion of their fans and fuel their title aspirations.

The ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat is a hallmark of championship-winning teams, and Hearts are beginning to exhibit this trait.

Celtic and Rangers have consistently demonstrated this capacity over the years, with Celtic recently exhibiting it in the Scottish Cup; now, Hearts are showing signs of developing this skill as well.

Following their defeat to St Mirren and with the Old Firm improving under new management, Hearts desperately needed this win to maintain their momentum.

A loss to Hibernian would have allowed Rangers to potentially overtake Hearts when they face Motherwell, but instead, McInnes' team has preserved their lead.

With 12 matches remaining, Hearts now hold a six-point advantage over Rangers, who are managed by Danny Rohl, as they prepare to face a challenging away match against the fourth-placed team.

Reigning champions Celtic trail Hearts by a further three points, although they have an additional game in hand.

Listen to the reaction to Hearts' narrow victory over Hibernian, secured by a late goal.

The focus shifts to the upcoming match between Motherwell and Rangers, with attention on O'Neill and Nygren.

Hearts have extended their lead in the Premiership with a hard-fought win over Hibernian, courtesy of a late goal.

A review of the season's early fixtures reveals that Hearts have consistently demonstrated the ability to score late goals and secure victories.

One notable example is the match against Dundee United at Tannadice, where Stuart Findlay scored a late winner to overturn a 2-1 deficit and earn McInnes' team all three points.

Another instance was the win against Livingston in August, where Alexandros Kyziridis scored the decisive goal to secure a 2-1 victory.

Craig Halkett's stoppage-time goal in the first derby of the season was another crucial moment, as he scored from a Sabah Kerjota cross to secure a win.

It's not just goals that have made a difference; Craig Gordon's save against Dundee, when the team was down to 10 men, was instrumental in preserving a 1-0 lead.

Gordon's exceptional goalkeeping prevented Emile Acquah's header from leveling the score, ensuring Hearts secured two vital points.

Statistically, Hearts have scored 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of league matches, with only Rangers scoring more during this period.

According to head coach Derek McInnes, the team's desire to influence the game's outcome has been a key factor in their success, as seen in Harry Milne's determination to deliver the ball to the byeline and Tomas Magnusson's efforts to score.

McInnes expressed his pride in the team's ability to score crucial goals, stating that it's rare for them not to find the back of the net, and praised the electric atmosphere at Tynecastle.

In addition to scoring late goals, Hearts are developing the habit of winning matches despite not performing at their best, a trait often associated with title-winning teams.

Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew noted that Hearts' ability to win ugly is a characteristic of teams that challenge for titles and win leagues.

McInnes' attacking lineup struggled to impose themselves in the match, with many pundits criticizing their below-par performance.

Former Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson acknowledged that the team's performance was not impressive but emphasized that the result is all that matters, with 12 matches remaining to create history.

Stevenson struggled to identify a standout player, except for Harry Milne, who made a significant effort to drive the team forward.

Scott Allan, a former Hibs and Celtic midfielder, offered a more nuanced assessment of the match, stating that Hearts' victory was unexpected given their lackluster performance.

Allan reflected that the win, despite not playing well, speaks volumes about the team's resilience and the foundation being built under McInnes.

The focus now shifts to the upcoming match against Rangers at Ibrox, a challenging fixture for Hearts.

McInnes is unlikely to be concerned about the team's performance, given the significance of the win and the position it puts Hearts in ahead of the match on Sunday.

The match against Rangers will be a crucial test for Hearts, who won at Ibrox earlier in the season, their first away victory against the blue half of Glasgow since 2014.

At the time, it was unimaginable that Hearts would still be leading the standings when they returned to Ibrox.

Ryan Stevenson predicts that if Hearts secure a win at Ibrox, they will likely go on to win the league, a bold statement ahead of a pivotal match.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan views on Hearts, visit our dedicated page.

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Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches

A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.

A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.

The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.

The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.

Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.

A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.

With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.

As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.

Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.

During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.

Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.

Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.

Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.

Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.

The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.

Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.

Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.

Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.

With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.

Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.

Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.

This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.

Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.

Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.

Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.

Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.

Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.

Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.

Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.

Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.

Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.

McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.

Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.

Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.

Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.

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GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.

Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.

A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.

Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.

However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.

Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.

"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.

With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.

The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.

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The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.

With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.

However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.

The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.

Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.

Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.

The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.

"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.

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Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.

The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.

Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.

In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.

Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.

He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.

A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.

The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.

The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.

Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.

The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.

The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.

The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.

Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.

The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.

The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.

The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.

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