"Hearts have arrived. They are going to go all the way."
Your Site' Kris Boyd has switched allegiance to the Jambos, believing they will not be caught after their 2-1 win against Rangers left them six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership for Christmas.
It is the first time since 1993 that a team outside the Old Firm has led the title race at this stage of the season. Are they on their way to ending Celtic and Rangers' 40-year top-flight dominance?
"This Hearts team - because of the dominance of Rangers and Celtic in this league for so long, there is a reluctance to sway to someone else - have arrived and are here, they are going to go all the way," former Rangers striker Boyd said on Your Site.
"It is not all rosy in the East End of Glasgow right now and if Hearts can capitalise on that, they are favourites for the title."
Let's also not forget about Motherwell. Jens Berthel Askou's men are unbeaten in their last 10 league games and currently sit third in the Premiership, splitting the Glasgow giants.
A few eyebrows were raised when new shareholder this season and even win the Premiership "within the next 10 years".
The Brighton owner stressed his belief in the club's "ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football which has been in place for far too long".
Head coach Derek McInnes has worked wonders since taking charge at Tynecastle Park, but is refusing to get caught up in the hype of what they could achieve this season.
"We're exactly where we want to be. I've said that to the players. We've put that demand on ourselves to make sure we turn up," he told Your Site after .
"I think the support sees how the players work for the club, and how they work for each and every result. But we've also got good, talented players in here as well.
"So, we've got a wee bit of everything, but just delighted with how the players have dealt with each and every game.
"They're an absolute pleasure to work with, day in, day out. And we're just really dealing with games as they come along."
The Jambos have lost just once in the Premiership this season. They have managed to beat both Celtic and Rangers home and away, and the top two scorers in the league - Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga - wear maroon.
"We shall not be moved" rang around Tynecastle Park on Sunday. Hearts have not won the Scottish title since 1960 - the fans clearly believe that a 66-year wait is long enough.
"This is only the beginning."
Wilfried Nancy at the fifth attempt and, at times, they looked back to their best against Aberdeen.
In parts, they were a joy to watch. Denied by the woodwork and some brilliant goalkeeping from Dimitar Mitov.
They should have been out of reach, but the Dons - who had Dylan Lobban sent off in the first half - took their chance and pulled it back to 1-1.
The Celtic of a few weeks ago may have buckled at that point, but they dug deep with two late goals to secure the victory.
One that eased some of the early pressure on the new boss and kept them six points behind Hearts with a game in hand, although the Frenchman is not bothered about how the table currently looks.
"I don't chase anybody. We chase our performance, we chase ourselves, the way we have to play to compete with ourselves," he told Your Site News.
"And after that, the standing, we're going to look at it a little bit later.
"For the moment, this is what we can do now. Improve, get better and, after that, we'll see the standing."
It is a step in the right direction, but pre-match protests against the board and full-time boos by fans still frustrated by Nancy's dismal start show there is a lot of hard work ahead if they are to secure their 14th title in just 15 seasons.
The manager stuck with his preferred 3-4-3 formation - had that been another failed experiment, their hopes and Nancy's tenure could have been all but over.
"Rangers are out of it, they are finished and can forget about it, 12 points is too much to claw back."
For Boyd, his former team's title hopes ended with that loss to Hearts on Sunday.
It was their first league defeat since Danny Röhl took charge in October and, for the German, it was about the positives.
"I think it was for me, since I'm here, the best team we played, and this is where we want to go," he said.
"I think I said this many, many times, it's about steps, and there will be also some steps more sideways than forwards, and today it was maybe more sideways than forwards.
"This is what we have to improve as a group. We have to come into such a game 100 per cent as a group, but also individually, then we have the chance to win such games in the future."
There is no doubt he needs the right players in the January transfer window if they are to even challenge for second place.
With Joe Rothwell and John Souttar among the players still out injured and Nasser Djiga at the Africa Cup of Nations, Röhl continued with his makeshift defence which proved costly again.
Röhl has already told Your Site News he is confident of making "very early signings" and hopes the can strengthen their transfer hopes.
While Hearts are taking the headlines, Motherwell are on a 10-game unbeaten run in the top-flight.
They are also on their longest run without conceding since 2013-14, while playing attractive football the fans want to watch.
It is also the longest clean sheet run of any non-Old Firm team since St Johnstone in 2018.
on Saturday lifted them to third, one point ahead of Rangers.
It was a 1-0 win, but they had 16 shots, seven on target, 60 final third entries and 28 touches in the opposition box before Callum Slattery's late header.
The Fir Park side travel to Rangers next before before a home game against Celtic.
Motherwell could be another surprise package. Could it be two teams splitting the Old Firm come May?
