Can resolute Hearts capitalise on window of opportunity?

Eleven months ago, with Aberdeen locked on points with Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit, a first league defeat of the season at St Mirren started the derailment of the Pittodrie side's league campaign.

Almost a year later, with Hearts eight points clear at the top, observers were preparing to draw parallels when Stephen Robinson's men roared into a 3-1 lead in Paisley on Wednesday.

But with a slice luck and a ton of resilience, Derek McInnes' side fought back for a second time in an enthralling encounter to claim a point, maintain their unbeaten start and keep momentum rolling.

And it could have been more had Oisin McEntee not drifted into an offside position in the build-up to Pierre Landry Kabore's late disallowed goal.

Despite their lead being cut to six points, Hearts could yet be 12 clear before Celtic finish their next Premiership match.

"It's important we win [against Dundee] on Saturday now," McInnes told BBC Scotland. "If we do, this'll be seen as a decent point.

"If anyone told me at the start of the season that after 10 games we'd be six points clear of Celtic, you'd have grabbed that with both hands. That's where we are."

With Celtic set to face Rangers in the League Cup last four on Sunday (14:00 GMT), they have a weekend without Premiership football.

Hearts, though, welcome Stephen Pressley's Dundee to Tynecastle on Saturday (15:00) knowing they can stretch their lead to nine points with a win.

The following weekend, the top two both play on the Sunday. McInnes' side host Dundee United (15:00), with Celtic kicking off at home to Kilmarnock an hour later.

That means Hearts could sitting on a 12-point advantage before the reigning champions end their next league match.

Of course, there is no guarantee the Gorgie club win either of their games. And if they do, Celtic will still have a game in hand to cut any gap.

But for McInnes' men to crank up the pressure and give themselves a buffer at the top, this is a window of opportunity they will be desperate to capitalise on.

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