Hearts are now six points ahead of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon has weighed in on the impact of Celtic’s decision to sack Wilfried Nancy. The French coach was dismissed after their 3-1 loss to Rangers, which stretched the gap between Celtic and the Jambos to six points.

Celtic’s turbulent season has reached dramatic new heights, as Martin O’Neill returns on a second interim basis. Nancy was shown the door after just eight games in charge, losing six of them in what ended up being a dismal and brief tenure.

The Hoops have won 13 titles in the last 14 seasons in Scotland’s top flight but unless O’Neill can turn their season around, they will miss out on adding to their dominant run.

O’Neill’s first match in charge during this second stint will be against Dundee United at Parkhead this weekend. They will then face three more opponents before taking on Hearts again on January 25th.

Hearts star discusses Celtic decision to sack Wilfried Nancy

Gordon has a lot to consider this season, as his contract with Hearts is due to expire this summer. At 43 years of age, his career is coming to an end and there has been no indication that there is a new contract on the table for him at Tynecastle Park.

If the shot-stopper does leave the club, he could depart with a Scottish Premiership title under his belt.

Celtic had the chance to go top of the table in December when they faced Hearts in Nancy’s first match in charge. However, after a 2-1 loss, a gap has once again grown between the Hoops and the league leaders.

Despite the rocky period under Nancy and Hearts now boasting an impressive lead, Gordon is adamant ‘nothing has changed’ when it comes to their attitude towards the title battle.

“Nothing has changed, not as far as we're concerned. It's all down to us and us trying to win matches. We'll see what Celtic do from here and who they bring in, whether that changes anything. There are too many unknowns for us to start thinking about anything other than ourselves,” Gordon said (via Edinburgh Evening News).

“Just keep winning, be relentless, go again week after week to come back out and win another match and put the pressure elsewhere. That's all we need to focus on.

“We've got to go to Dundee [on Sunday] and try and win the match and keep putting pressure on, keep getting the points for ourselves. It doesn't matter what anybody else does. We are the team that are six points clear and we have to focus on what we have to do to continue winning.”

Hearts strong under management of Derek McInnes

While Celtic have seen both Brendan Rodgers and Nancy leave the club this season, and Rangers sacked Russell Martin, Hearts continue to enjoy the Derek McInnes effect.

“That's something where we may have an advantage. We have to try and take any possible advantage that we have,” Gordon continued.

“Certainly that togetherness, that willing to work for each other and fight for each other is something that we are absolutely going to need in every single game between now and the end of the season to try and maintain this.

“Without that, it would be impossible to maintain. We've had that throughout and when there has been a little setback at any point, we've always stuck together.”