Hearts 'elephant' about to fall off tree? - fan reactions

It is all getting tighter at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with all five teams narrowing the gap with Heart of Midlothian after the leaders lost to Aberdeen.

Has Hearts' bubble burst, are Celtic and Rangers fans any happier after their respective victories and what do the fans of sides being left behind in the bottom six think about it?

Here are a selection of your comments.

Hearts fans are fearing the worst despite their side's four-point lead over reigning champions Celtic after a run of only one victory in four outings.

Alan: This result and performance more or less confirms that Hearts are not going to win the league this season - any Hearts fan who thinks otherwise is deluded. It's all so frustrating as we have the worst Celtic and Rangers teams for such a long time, but no matter how bad they are, they've proved they are still capable of stringing victories together - that's in their DNA. It's a great opportunity for Hearts this season, but you can just tell that they don't have the necessary bottle or composure to win the league. The misses by Pierre Landry Kabore, Tomas Magnusson and Harry Milne were inexcusable. A frustrating and concerning weekend for all Hearts fans.

Paul: Seeing Hearts at the top of the league is like seeing an elephant up a tree, you've no idea how it got there, but you know it'll come crashing down to Earth very soon. Celtic will win the league, with an improved Rangers a close second. As you were. Nothing to see here.

Gordon: Didn't play that badly, we missed a number of chances. The worry is that it's dropped points in three of the last four games. The manager has been poor in these games and late to make changes.

Kenny: I think the bubble has well and truly burst! Throughout the decades, Hearts as a club completely lack the collective toughness that even the not so good Old Firm sides always seem to have.

Levi: Worst performance this season. Can't be expected to win the league when players don't turn up against a bottom club like Aberdeen. First time this season I've had my doubts about McInnes making us a great team. Selection was wrong, tactics seemed missing.

John: Wake up call for far too many who, despite a fair amount of evidence to the contrary, saw this team winning titles. The Old Firm are both dreadful, but the horrible reality for Hearts and Scottish football is they will still cruise first and second. I'd take third right now because that's our place in things here and because I don't believe that's a given in any way yet.

Callum McGregor's stoppage-time winner away to St Mirren did not placate Celtic fans after a week when they remain without a manager and their annual meeting descended into chaos amid fan protests against the board.

Joe: Whoever the next manager is has a monumental task ahead of them. The squad needs a complete overhaul. This won't be a quick fix. We were awful.

Peter: Dreadful performance from a dreadful team. We are so poor it defies belief. It tells you a lot about the standard of Scottish football at the moment. Would any quality manager wish to take on this situation? Would need to be mad.

Patrick: A really boring performance, which might have been better if we had any squad depth. It's never been more clear that the toxic relationship between the fans and the board is hurting the players and club. Something has to give and if the fans can't communicate constructively then this will only continue.

Merky: The board are hurting the team, it's as simple as that. With lack of recruitment, lack of professionalism when trying to make signings, lack of communication and lastly lack of changes in key board decision-making positions when there have been failings year after year. Simply winning the league isn't enough. The team and club have to improve year after year and both have regressed.

Mick: The board needs to stop apologising for the mistakes and give the supporters a commitment to improve the team in the January window. Nothing less will be acceptable or the dissent will continue.

James: St Mirren pushed us hard. The first-half performance was dreadful all round. The game came much more to life in the second half, but Celtic still looked a little off the pace. I would like to think that the off-field issues aren't affecting the team, but the realist in me knows it is.

Four straight league wins under new head coach Danny Rohl have not placated fans of city rivals Rangers after a narrow escape at home to Livingston, with the visitors controversially denied a penalty in their 2-1 defeat.

Stuart: A hard-fought victory. Not good on the eye, but at least the three points were secured. Again, James Tavernier and Nasser Djiga were a liability. Hopefully Dujon Sterling can replace Tav and we can send Djiga back in January.

Louise: It was a good start taking an early lead but turned into a hard watch. However, winning ugly is still three points. We must take the positive that Danny Rohl is still winning domestic games, but there is clearly still a lot of work to be done.

Allan: Difficult to break down that defence, which made the performance look worse than it was. I think Livi should have had a penalty, but Rangers deserved to win. Happy to get three points. We need more strength in depth in the squad.

Edwin: After so many dodgy refereeing decisions going against us, you would think Rangers fans would be happy to see some going our way. I'm not, though. We shouldn't be relying on bad decisions to beat teams like Livi.

David: Despite the three points, it was backward steps. Desperately poor. Rohl must be wondering what he has to do to get a real tune out of this squad.

Bob: Unfortunately, the Russell Martin farce has left us bereft of quality all over the pitch. I hope Danny Rohl gets the time to correct the mistakes. Injuries didn't help, but defence looks weak and the attack toothless - not a good combination.

Steven: This is the weakest, softest Rangers team I can remember. I don't just mean the goals they concede, but all over the park we're second best in challenges and physicality. Oliver Antman and Thelo Aasgaard are empty shirts and I don't understand how the likes of Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron are sitting on the bench - at least these boys put in a shift and get stuck in.

Hibernian fans are the only happy bunch among the Premiership's top four after their 2-0 win over Dundee.

Martin: Great performance where we controlled the ball for large periods. The pleasing thing for me is our midfield three are really starting to gel, especially Dan Barlaser, who was outstanding. Special mention to Raphael Sallinger, who made two top-drawer saves. Fir Park on Tuesday should be a cracker.

Willie: Some very good moments in the game, two good goals. The subs were an issue and goalkeeper makes two great saves. The last 20-25 minutes should have been a lot comfier than it was.

Gordon: Hibs cruised through this game and should have had it done and dusted by half time. Grant Hanley strolls through every league game and Jamie McGrath was excellent as well. Our keeper had two brilliant saves late on, but Hibs deserved the win and it could have been more.

Paul: A routine victory for the Hibees, total control. The only negative is that we didn't score more goals. Man of the match for me was McGrath, he was immense. I think Sallinger is improving each game in goals. The next two games are huge. Maximum points would make us serious candidates to go close to winning the league.

Kenny: Great all-round performance, but just a pity we missed the early chances and the game would have been over by half time. Great to see Kieron Bowie scoring and there were some great individual performances and also some very good teamwork. This is more like it.

George: Best league performance of season so far. Great football, played Dundee off the park. But, again, sloppy finishing almost cost us as Dundee upped the anti in final 15 minutes.

Fifth-top Falkirk stunned Dundee United 3-0 at Tannadice, leaving the promoted side's fans dreaming of a top-six finish.

Ross: Falkirk are clicking nicely at the moment, hopefully silencing the doubters on the way and giving us fans something to enjoy. We look like a Premiership team, which is the biggest compliment I can give John McGlynn and his team.

Nathan: What a fantastic away day. Three goals and a clean sheet. Thought we were a class above United in every area of the park and held them to very little. We go to Ibrox full of confidence next week.

Ivor: Incredible season, incredible result and Europe-bound. Never would have predicted that in September last year.

United are now five points adrift of Saturday's visitors, in seventh place, and goalkeeper Yevhen Kucharenko was picked out for special criticism.

Garry: I feel for the guy, but we need to take the goalkeeper out of the team and give Dave Richards a shot. He is not filling anyone with confidence and I'm pretty sure that defence is not helping his confidence levels either.

Jim: Unfathomable that the manager should be using the same tactics employed against Hearts at Tynecastle, against Falkirk at Tannadice. Too much worrying about our opponents rather than have them worry about us. Furthermore, the defence has been leaking goals all season - coaching obviously isn't making any difference, so why hasn't there been changes to the personnel? Our young Scottish player, Sam Cleall-Harding, must get his chance alongside Ross Graham.

Scott: Poor all over from United, players and management. Yevhen Kucherenko must be dropped now, costing us too many points. As much as United were a shambles, Falkirk and their supporters were absolutely brilliant from start to finish. A credit to the league.

Niall: United's back three were awful. Out of position, chasing shadows and clueless in the transition. Ivan Dolcek needs to re-prove himself. He made far too many poor passes in midfield and was deservedly pulled.

Jamie: The Jim Goodwin out sentiment is building. He doesn't know how to set out a team unless it's against a squad who are superior to us and will dominate the ball. Has no clue how to take the game to teams without being exposed at the back on the counter. Superb from Falkirk - nine Scots in their starting team unless I'm mistaken. Very impressive.

Shaun: Goodwin talks a good game, but I think he's a certain level of manager because any proper manager, at home, with some of the players we have would attack against teams like Falkirk, Kilmarnock and Livingston, yet they are all coming to Tannadice and totally outplaying us. Really worried for us now.

Motherwell are tucked between Falkirk and United after their 3-1 win away to Kilmarnock.

Bertie: Finally, the results are matching the dominance of Motherwell's playing style and, unlike previous years, I can actually look forward to the weekend. The next two home games will see where we are and if we can continue to challenge for the top six and maybe Europe next season. Hats off to the board as well doing their homework and the previous manager as he did make a couple of decent signings before he left.

Derek: Great result. Killie has been a bit of a bogey ground for us in recent years. We played some good stuff in the first half and took both goals really well. We slacked off at the start of the second half to let Killie back, but the triple sub from the manager gave us full control. We got the third goal and the game was done.

James: A great result. Well-deserved with great football and fantastic passing. Keep up the good work and top six will come.

Alec: I think [head of goalkeeping] Neil Alexander is doing a brilliant job with Calum Ward. He is so crucial to our style of play.

Aberdeen are now level on points with United after a 1-0 win over the league leaders that has their fans in renewed heart.

Andrew: The sort of performance that has been lacking in many ways for a long time - disciplined, defensive and, while it was a tough watch at times, especially in the second half, there is now something to build on for what is looking like a really packed schedule before the end of the year.

David: Obviously this was a welcome victory, but the only favour we handed out was to Celtic. Our defence has definitely improved, but we offer nothing in the way of creativity and our negativity, particularly in the second half, does not instil any optimism going forward. The "three-year project" is in reverse.

Graeme: It's a welcome result, but they don't half make hard work of things. Hopefully it can inspire a win on Thursday and three points against Livingston next Sunday.

Niall: The first-half performance was much more like it. Creative and working hard for each other. Stuart Armstrong was fantastic and everywhere during this spell. Topi Keskinen's goal will hopefully give him more confidence as the Dons perform when he is driving forward and creating chances. The second half was backs-to-the-wall, with Jack Milne outstanding. Another clean sheet against the league leaders with a result to give the squad a massive confidence lift.

Mark: The structure is so much better now, both in and out of possession, and there seems to be a much better understanding throughout the team. Despite creating little in the second half, and Hearts lacking composure with their efforts, I am pleased that the team stood strong and were clinical when the chance was there. For me, that was Topi's best game and hopefully things start to gel with the front players as confidence grows. More momentum for the team going into Thursday against Noah.

Evan: After the results in the rest of the fixtures on Saturday, a gap was starting to appear between us and the top six and a big performance was needed. Well, we got it. Had to battle really hard for that win against a slick Hearts side, but we were aggressive in the challenge, sprinting in the press and played the ball around quickly to create chances. It just makes the weak, pedestrian football we've seen from the Dons so far this season even more maddening.

The bottom four are becoming a bit detached, but St Mirren fans saw some positives in their last-gasp defeat by Celtic before their re-match in next month's Premier Sports Cup final.

Stu: Yet again we play so well and get nothing. The "own goal" by Celtic's Liam Scales baffled me that it wasn't given. I'm glad it wasn't the cup final as that late goal would have broken so many hearts.

Paul: Gutted. We deserved so much more from this game. Celtic are a shadow of the football machine they were before.

William: Saints were very unfortunate to lose this match, but as the boss said, we need to put away the chances that we create. Excellent performance that surely gives us a lot of confidence that we can win the upcoming Hampden final.

Paul: What a kick in the teeth. Celtic were outplayed and outfought by an excellent St. Mirren, only for them to smash and grab it at the death. Shocking.

Defeat at home to Motherwell has increased concern among Kilmarnock fans for their team - and manager.

Craig: The game summed up our team this season - a real lack of fight or intensity going forward and a shambles of a defence at the back. Longest losing streak since 2021 and we have really hard games against Hearts and Rangers coming up. Something needs to change.

Frank: The poor run is wholly down to the manager. It's his team, he signed the bulk of the group. The team is in freefall at present and unfortunately the only way to stop it is say goodbye to Stuart Kettlewell.

Bill: Another game, another disaster. A team making the same costly mistakes week after week and coaching staff who seem unable to change things. Cannot see any prospect of improvement. Total revamp of management and players required now.

John: The team lacks confidence at the moment, the defence especially, and we really don't have an out-and-out goalscorer. This will be a tough season, but we need to stay loyal to the team and the manager. Sacking the manager is not the answer to losing our last six games. Instilling confidence is essential to get us back to winning ways.

Wolfgang: Let's be honest, if he doesn't get a win in the next three games, he's most likely out. I feel for the guy cause we've not been bad apart from that Falkirk game, but we've just not got that extra mentality to be consistent in a game.

Norman: It's easy to blame the manager. However, the club, I am sure, is working on a very tight budget and you get what you pay for as far as quality is concerned. Injuries have not helped, but all clubs face injury issues at one time or another. The club is in a terrible position now and perhaps a change is needed. The board should give serious consideration to appointing a more experienced manager who will stabilise the ship.

Dundee fans are increasingly unhappy at their head coach after their latest loss in Edinburgh.

Adam: It's a disgrace that Steven Pressley is framing this as some sort of "improvement". The game was done and Hibs were thinking about their next game before we even had a shot on target, nevermind gave them something to think about. Pressley needs to go if we are to have a chance of staying up.

Mark: Pressley no doubt gained some valuable experience down at Brentford even in the role he was in, but the Scottish Premiership is not the English Premier League. Point in case, we get a free kick in the attacking half in the dying seconds of the first half, perfect time to get that ball in the box, but no, we try to pass it about and then the ref blows his whistle. That could only be down to Pressley's tactics. He needs to go now.

Grant: This is the worst Dundee team ever to play at this level. Pressley needs to go, but so do the people who appointed him.

Ian: Let's be honest, what we have on the pitch is absolutely dross. Pressley keeps saying he sees improvement. Ask any Dundee fan and they will say different. He must go for the sake of our Premiership future.

Johnny: Pressley is fooling nobody with his comments after the game. We were once again negative with our set-up. Another horrendous tactical effort from Pressley.

Darren: I don't blame the manager. He can only work with what he is given. The club is not being run properly and I don't believe Mr Nelms has the ability to do so. He is the problem - not all the managers that come and gone under him. John Nelms out please.

Livingston remain bottom, but their fans believe they were hard done-by in their defeat at Ibrox.

Ian: Will Rangers be releasing a statement asking why Livingston never got a clear penalty, or is it only an injustice when it goes against them?

William: What is the purpose of VAR? I see no mass hysteria about referee SFA conspiracies this time as it was in Rangers' favour.

Eddie: Livingston should have been awarded a penalty and the VAR team should have asked the referee to go to the monitor in real time. It's a difficult one for the ref, but that's what VAR is for - to give the opportunity to review it.

Malky: It's a penalty. We know it's not a blatant hand ball, but Livi are denied a goalscoring opportunity and that means a penalty must be given.