Scottish Premiership Title Race Already Looks One-sided, But Weekend Offers Intrigue

Alfred Johansson, Martin O'Neill, Derek McInnes and Wouter Vrancken lead sides who finished in the top four last season. It has been a tough start to the season for last term's big three in the Scottish Premiership. Reigning champions Celtic stole a march on runners-up Heart of Midlothian and city rivals Rangers considering they won on the opening weekend, albeit by a single goal against a visiting Dundee side many are predicting will be in a relegation battle come the end of the season.

But then came the news on Wednesday that veteran manager Martin O'Neill was in hospital after undergoing what they said was a small precedure. On the field of play, Hearts suffered a 6-1 humiliation away to Benfica - their fourth defeat in a row already this season - while Rangers followed up their 1-1 draw away to Dundee United by also losing in the Europa League qualifiers, 2-1 away to Jagiellonia Bialystok. A 'critically important' summit has been called on the future of Scottish football, and the Scottish summer malaise continues, but there is some room for optimism.