The upcoming clash between Hibernian and Celtic has sparked a surprisingly bitter debate among Hibs supporters: would they rather see their side lose if it meant their city rivals, Hearts, were denied the league title? This dilemma is playing out ahead of the live Sky Sports broadcast, where Celtic sit three points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership race. The situation echoes a moment from May 2024 in the English Premier League, when Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou launched an impassioned tirade at his own fans who were urging him to sacrifice a win over Manchester City to keep Arsenal from closing the gap.
The Hibs‑Celtic scenario feels similar, but it is amplified by the fact that neither Edinburgh club has lifted the Scottish top‑flight crown since Hearts’ historic triumph in 1960. The weight of that long‑standing drought makes the stakes feel almost surreal. Hibernian’s head coach, David Gray, finds himself in a near‑impossible position.
After missing the chance to dent Hearts’ title hopes in the previous Edinburgh Derby, Gray must now decide whether to prioritize his own club’s ambitions or the wishes of a vocal minority in the stands. A victory would improve Hibs’ slim odds of finishing fourth – a placement that guarantees a spot in European competition – yet it would also hand Hearts a crucial three points that could bring them level with the league leaders.
The club sits six points behind Motherwell with only four games left, so Gray’s primary focus is on climbing the table, even if that objective clashes with the emotions of some supporters. In an interview with Sky Sports News, Gray emphasized his professional mindset: "It’s not awkward for me – it’s self‑explanatory.
We are professionals and we do everything we can to win games. I understand the noise, I grew up in the city, I know the chatter, but the first weekend of post‑split fixtures shows results can change quickly. I still believe we have enough games left to fight for fourth place, so we need to do everything we can between now and then to try and do that.
There will be twists and turns until the end of the season, that’s for sure. My full focus is on Hibernian Football Club, this group of players, and making sure we get as many points as we can. We will approach this game like any other – we will try to win, and if other results go our way we could get closer to Motherwell again, and that’s all that matters." While the coaching staff can compartmentalise duty from sentiment, it is far trickier for fans. Hibs supporter Euan Wilson, speaking on the Down the Slope podcast, admitted through clenched teeth that he would “just about don’t want Hibs to win this weekend.” He explained that a Hibs victory would not disappoint him personally, but at this stage of the season a loss might actually serve the broader goal of preventing Hearts from clinching the title.
Wilson added, "The manager and the players will want to win – they’re professionals – but rivalry is what makes football tick. If we lost and it meant Hearts didn’t win the league, so be it.
Six points is a lot in four games, especially against a Motherwell side with a superior goal difference." Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, a veteran of Scottish city rivalries, recognised the emotional complexity but stressed the professional nature of his squad. "I hadn’t even thought about it really," he told Sky Sports News.
"I can understand Hibs fans maybe thinking about that, but certainly not the team and the coaching staff. Absolutely not – it wouldn’t enter their heads." O’Neill noted that a win at Easter Road would put Celtic level on points with the league leaders, setting up a decisive showdown as Hearts host Rangers the following day. Despite a turbulent season that saw three different managers at the helm, Celtic still have a realistic shot at a 14th title in 15 seasons, a prospect now back in their own hands.
O’Neill also reflected on the atmosphere surrounding the match. He described the previous weekend’s game against Falkirk as “loud, with everyone pulling in the same direction,” and praised the strong support that lifted the players.
"It reminded me of the old days – it was really great. The crowd stayed with us, and that was very encouraging for the players," he said. The broader context of this fixture highlights how football in Scotland, especially in cities with deep‑rooted rivalries, can become a theatre of competing loyalties.
For Hibs fans, the choice between supporting their own team’s immediate success and sabotaging a rival’s championship hopes creates a moral quandary that goes beyond the usual win‑lose binary. For Gray and O’Neill, the answer lies in professionalism: focus on the match at hand, give everything on the pitch, and let the results of other games fall where they may.
As the season draws to a close, the drama will intensify. Motherwell remain a formidable obstacle, and the goal‑difference battle adds another layer of complexity. Hibs must decide whether a win will bring them within striking distance of a European spot, while Celtic aim to keep the title race alive. Meanwhile, Hearts’ supporters watch anxiously, hoping that any slip from Hibs or Celtic will keep their club’s championship dreams intact.
In the end, football often forces clubs and fans to balance passion with pragmatism. Whether Hibs fans ultimately cheer for a win or a loss, the match will be a pivotal moment in a season where every point matters, and the echoes of a 1960 title drought still linger over Edinburgh’s footballing landscape.