Hibs vs Celtic: Hearts Title Race at Easter Road, 2026

Key Points

• Hibernian will face Celtic at Easter Road on Sunday 3 May 2026 in the Scottish Premiership, with the visiting side still in contention for the title while Hibs are focusing on a top‑four finish.
• Hibs head coach David Gray has dismissed any suggestion his side would “throw” the game to favour Hearts’ title campaign, insisting his only priority is picking up points for Hibernian.
• A section of the Easter Road support has made clear they would prefer to lose to Celtic if that helps dent Hearts’ title bid, given the tight rivalry between the two Edinburgh clubs.
• Hearts currently sit three points clear of Celtic at the summit with four games left, having won the recent Edinburgh derby 2–1 against nine‑man Hibs at Easter Road.
• Gray has acknowledged that beating Celtic would dent Hearts’ chances but has framed the fixture around his own team’s objectives, not the wider title race.

Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) April 30, 2026

Why is Hibs’ visit from Celtic being watched so closely by rival fans?

Hibernian’s upcoming home clash against Celtic at Easter Road on Sunday 3 May 2026 has become a barometer for the wider title race, with Hearts fans and sections of the Easter Road support keeping a close eye on how the hosts plan to approach the game.

As reported by Sam Blitz of Sky Sports and RTE Sport, Hearts’ 2–1 derby win over nine‑man Hibs last weekend left the Jambos three points clear of Celtic at the top of the William Hill Premiership table, tightening the pressure on all three clubs in the final run‑in.

How have sections of Hibs’ support framed the Celtic game?

Some elements of the Easter Road faithful have openly stated they would be content to see Hibs lose to Celtic if that raises the chances of Hearts’ rivals Hearts failing to clinch the title. Social‑media chatter and fan forums, as captured by outlets including Daily Record Sport and independent football‑analysis platforms, indicate a split in sentiment:

while many insist the club should always “fight for every point,” others argue that in the context of the Edinburgh‑centric title race, a Celtic win might be preferable to giving Hearts a straightforward path to the championship.

How has Hibs head coach David Gray responded to claims his side might help Hearts?

David Gray has firmly rejected any suggestion that Hibernian would deliberately ease up against Celtic or effectively “throw” the match to aid Hearts’ title hopes. Reporting for Sky Sports, journalist Sam Blitz noted that Gray said Hibs

“will be going all out to beat Hearts”

and insisted the club’s focus is on securing their own objectives, specifically a top‑four finish. In an interview carried by Sky Sports, Gray stated:

“There’s certainly an edge to this one because of what’s at stake for both clubs,”

adding that any impact on Hearts’ title chances would be a by‑product, not the primary aim.

How does Gray balance the influence of fan sentiment with his team’s priorities?

In a further statement relayed by 67 Hail Hail after Gray watched Celtic’s victory over Falkirk up close, the Hibs boss acknowledged the broader context while re‑emphasising the club’s own targets. 67 Hail Hail quoted Gray as saying:

“Celtic are going for the league and we’re going for fourth place. So they’re going to be trying to back up their performance from last week, and we’re going to be trying to get any points we can along the way.”

This line of reasoning suggests Gray is attempting to manage the heightened emotions around the fixture without letting them dictate his tactical approach or his players’ mentality.

What does the recent Edinburgh derby reveal about the current atmosphere at Easter Road?

The 2–1 derby defeat to Hearts at Easter Road exposed both the tension and the fine margins involved in this stage of the title race. As detailed in the Sky Sports match report and RTE Sport coverage, substitute Blair Spittal scored an 86th‑minute winner after Hibs had already been reduced to nine men, with goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger sent off for a handball outside the box and Felix Passlack later shown a second yellow card.

The Sky Sports report, written by Sam Blitz, described the game as “a late‑drama encounter” in which Hearts turned around an early Hibs lead via a Warren O’Hora own goal and Spittal’s late strike, moves that extended Hearts’ cushion at the top to three points.

How are Hearts’ position and remaining fixtures influencing the narrative around Hibs?

Hearts’ current position – three points clear of Celtic with four matches remaining – has placed an extra spotlight on every result involving the top three. As noted by RTE Sport and repeated in coverage from Sky Sports and independent Scottish‑football outlets, the Jambos’ derby win over Hibs was described as a

“big step towards the William Hill Premiership title,”

underlining how tightly the race is intertwined with the form of all three clubs. In that context, the Hibs–Celtic fixture has turned into a de facto indirect “title‑decider” in the eyes of many supporters, even though Hearts are not on the pitch that day.

How have Celtic’s recent performances shaped expectations for the Easter Road clash?

Celtic’s recent run, including a high‑profile win over Falkirk that Gray reportedly watched, has underpinned the narrative that Brendan Rodgers’ side will be expected to push hard for three points at Easter Road. Writing for 67 Hail Hail, the outlet noted that Gray “admitted the Celtic reality,” acknowledging the visitors’ superior position in the title race and superior resources compared with Hibs’ more modest top‑four ambitions.

This framing suggests commentators and fans alike anticipate a Celtic side motivated to keep their title hopes alive, while Hibs are seen as a disruptor rather than a contender in their own right.

What is the official line from Hibs regarding their approach to the game?

Officially, Hibs have stuck to a line of club‑centred professionalism ahead of the Celtic fixture. In statements relayed by Sky Sports and on‑club social‑media channels, Gray has emphasised that the only “priority” is accumulating points for Hibernian, not manipulating the outcome to benefit any other club. As quoted by Sky Sports, Gray said:

“If we can go and get three points this weekend, you’d add the fact that it damages their chances of winning it. Ultimately, it’s all about us and what we’re trying to do this weekend.”

This wording stops short of guaranteeing any particular outcome but firmly locates the club’s focus on itself rather than on the broader title race.

Background of the particular development

The current scrutiny around Hibs’ Celtic clash stems from the convergence of several factors in the William Hill Premiership table. Hearts’ 2–1 derby win over nine‑man Hibs at Easter Road on 25 April 2026, reported by Sky Sports and RTE Sport, moved the Jambos three points clear of Celtic at the top with four fixtures remaining. Before that result, Hibs had already been reduced to nine men, with Sallinger and Passlack dismissed, which left them vulnerable to the late comeback led by Spittal.

That outcome has placed Hibs in an awkward position: as the club that surrendered an early lead and then lost heavily to Hearts, they are now entering a game against Celtic that could, in theory, indirectly influence the title race.

At the same time, Hibs’ own objective of finishing in the top four means they cannot afford to simply concede ground, so Gray’s insistence on a “points‑for‑ourselves” approach reflects the club’s attempt to balance on‑pitch ambition with the volatile emotions of its supporters.

Prediction: How this development can affect the particular audience

For Hearts fans, the Hibs–Celtic match will be treated as a critical barometer of their title chances, even though their team is not on the pitch. The outcome could either narrow or widen the gap between Hearts and Celtic, depending on whether Hibs resist or buckle under Celtic’s pressure. A competitive Hibs performance that takes at least a point may be welcomed by those who want to see Hearts’ main rival stymied, while a heavy Celtic win would likely fuel frustration if it feels like Hibs offered little resistance.