Hearts were on the verge of a legacy-defining moment—just nine minutes away.
Four decades of Old Firm dominance were close to being overturned. The season’s leaders were level with holders Celtic in Glasgow as the clock edged into the 87th minute.
They looked set to hang on until Daizen Maeda scored, unleashing chaos at Paradise.
After Celtic’s third deep in stoppage time, unsavoury scenes followed. Hearts headed straight for the bus and later reappeared at Tynecastle with tears in their eyes.
Since then, the core of that side has been dismantled. Manager Derek McInnes has moved to Tynecastle, bringing captain and talisman Lawrence Shankland and midfield controller Cammy Devlin with him.
Wouter Vrancken has arrived from Sint-Truiden, and the Belgian’s start has been turbulent.
A 6-0 mauling by Sturm Graz knocked Hearts out of Champions League qualifying, leaving the Tynecastle support looking to the club’s data-driven recruitment to lift them back to last season’s heights.
Former striker Ryan Stevenson reckons Hearts resemble a newly assembled squad—manager included—still trying to find their way.
He pointed out that there’s no time to breathe in football; it’s one game after another.
Without results, he warned, Tynecastle can turn quickly. It can be electric, but the question is whether they have the personalities to handle it if the mood sours.
If performances don’t improve, he predicts the atmosphere will be grim by mid-September.