McInnes focused on wins not psychology in title race

Hearts manager Derek McInnes sees no psychological advantage in any team playing before their Scottish Premiership title rivals.

Rangers, who sit second, three points behind the Edinburgh side, host Dundee United on Saturday (15:00 BST) before Hearts visit Livingston on Sunday (14:00), while third-placed Celtic take on hosts Dundee later that day (16:30).

The Ibrox side have better goal difference and goals scored columns than Hearts before this weekend's fixtures.

"Ourselves, regardless of the results going into the split, we'll be in a good, decent position going into it but the whole psychological thing is quite fascinating," said McInnes, with seven league games remaining.

"Everybody else gets caught up in it all, it's great to comment on it and there's been loads of comment this season on the league, and that can only be a good thing.

"It's all quite fascinating really, but for us, we all play the same games and you've just got to deal with each game as it comes along, I've never really gone into any game thinking, we can psychologically damage another team, or I feel that we're going to be damaged by teams playing before us.

"I don't think that way, I don't think we can allow ourselves to think that way, it's just all about trying to deal with the next game."

Bottom side Livingston are 12 points adrift and have only won once in the Premiership this season.

However, Livi did hold Rangers to a 2-2 draw in February and were 2-0 up at one stage.

"Having seen Livingston over the last wee while, it's a tough enough game for us to be thinking about anything else other than just a good performance to help us win the game," added McInnes.

Celtic have lost eight league games, with interim manager Martin O'Neill conceding any more dropped points would make it "difficult - but not impossible" for the defending champions.

While Rangers can knock Hearts off top spot for the first time since September on Saturday, McInnes says it would be "foolish" to rule out the club, who have celebrated 13 of the past 14 titles.

Asked if he still viewed Celtic as a threat, McInnes responded: "One hundred per cent. You wouldn't discount a Martin O'Neill Celtic team at any juncture.

"They're a good side, they've got good players and they've been over the course. I think they've got a fantastic manager.

"There's still a lot of football to be played and I think anybody ruling Celtic out would be foolish."

As Hearts chase a first title since 1960, McInnes argued that no other team in Europe is upsetting the odds in the same way.

"We've been elevated into a position that probably nobody thought we could be at this stage of the season," he said.

"When you look across Europe, for a team to have the disparity in wages and spending power against the other two [Celtic and Rangers], it's so unusual.

"We're there, we're enjoying it and we just need to try and keep maintaining our good work for the rest of the campaign."

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