Is it all over then?

We love fitba was created to do two things - give existing followers of Scottish football an alternative perspective on the game, and encourage supporters of other leagues to keep an eye on developments up here. After all, the SPL 05/06 was an absolute rollercoaster of a season, so much more intriguing than, say, Chelsea's march to another Premiership title.

But here we are, in early November, and while Chelsea face a genuine threat to their 3-in-a-row ambitions, Celtic look home and dry already. 13 points clear of Hearts, 15 between them and Rangers, can anyone catch them?

As posted on here recently, Celtic have been far from perfect over the first quarter of the season, but they have been lucky. Gary Caldwell's horror show against Benfica mid-week will not have surprised any Hibs supporters, who became used to their old captain's inexplicable losses of concentration at key moments, but the fact that this beating has not fatally undermined them in the Champions League group is something of a blessing. Similarly, Celtic have been pushed to the wire several times in the SPL this season, but time and again key moments have gone their way and they've walked away with the 3 points. Arguably, they should never have been allowed the late winner against Hearts at the weekend - but the goal stood, and with it came the victory.

Gordon Strachan deserves some of the credit, though. Other than find a use for Derek Riordan, he has managed integrate his many new players into the first team squad, which should see them well-placed over the winter, when injuries and suspensions can threaten to derail a title bid. The midfield, in particular, has looked tasty for a while (which is why Riordan can't get a game), with Sno and Jarosik making contributions when Nakamura, Maloney, McGeady or Gravesen need a rest. He could even push Caldwell forward to deputise for Neil Lennon if need be, which might be his better position anyhow, with cover at the back. Either way, it would be a surprise if they get to January without still having a healthy lead over the chasing pack.

Paddy Power has already paid out on Celtic taking the title. It's a neat ploy to win the Oirish custom of course, but maybe they also want to encourage their punters to place another bet - out of Hearts and Rangers, who's gonna implode first?

Hearts were full of indignation at Celtic's controversial, and very late, winning goal, enabling them to dust down one of their favourite subjects: refereeing bias towards the Old Firm. But they had a legitimate case, and the 2-1 scoreline was not a fair reflection on the match. There was still no space for Brellier in the starting line-up (although he was on the bench) alongside 4 Lithuanians - suggesting Romanov is still choosing the team, despite Malofeev's protestations -but they played a lot better, and Velicka is justifying his place on his performances rather than his passport. Steven Pressley was missing, but apparently genuinely ill, and not dropped. It would seem from the outside, then, that everyone at the club has agreed to calm down and settle their differences after the mayhem of a week ago, but things will go off any day soon. They can't help themselves.

Rangers are just an abject shambles. Manager Paul Le Guen found it "unbelievable" that they lost at the weekend, and seeing as they were playing Dundee Utd, he had a point. But this is new, improved Dundee Utd, under yet another manager, and Craig Levein made sure they didn't roll over as usual. Charmlessly, Barry Ferguson was back to his old self after the match, putting in an instensive shift with the journalists to make sure they all knew how disappointed and hurt he is by Rangers' plight. He's not conceding the title yet, either. It's possible that one day he will, as captain, accept some responsibility for the team's failings and his own lacklustre displays, but don't hold your breath.

The chairman David Murray is both loyal and stubborn, so Le Guen won't get sacked. But the squad is no stronger than it was under McLeish, and quite possibly weaker, and complete disgust from the stands is only being averted by decent results in Europe. If they slip any further behind, though, things might turn nasty. Rangers are used to not winning anymore, but they won't tolerate being humiliated for much longer.

Celtic 2-1 Hearts
Dundee Utd 1-2 Rangers
Hibs 2-2 Kilmarnock
Inverness 1-1 Aberdeen
Dunfermline 0-3 Falkirk
Motherwell 0-0 St Mirren