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Hearts’ winning streak raises questions about their championship potential

A late derby victory over Hibernian has propelled Heart of Midlothian six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, prompting questions about whether the team is exhibiting the characteristics of a title-winning side.

In a thrilling Edinburgh derby, Tomas Magnusson scored the decisive goal for Hearts, securing a late victory against Hibernian at Tynecastle.

Highlights from the match between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian are available for viewing.

For the second time, Heart of Midlothian has emerged victorious in a derby match with a late goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy and prompting an ecstatic celebration from manager Derek McInnes, who was seen interacting with a ball boy.

Tomas Magnusson's goal in the 88th minute against Hibernian has given Hearts' title bid a significant boost, making their challenge for the top spot more credible as the season progresses.

This is not the first instance of Hearts producing a dramatic late goal to ignite the passion of their fans and fuel their title aspirations.

The ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat is a hallmark of championship-winning teams, and Hearts are beginning to exhibit this trait.

Celtic and Rangers have consistently demonstrated this capacity over the years, with Celtic recently exhibiting it in the Scottish Cup; now, Hearts are showing signs of developing this skill as well.

Following their defeat to St Mirren and with the Old Firm improving under new management, Hearts desperately needed this win to maintain their momentum.

A loss to Hibernian would have allowed Rangers to potentially overtake Hearts when they face Motherwell, but instead, McInnes' team has preserved their lead.

With 12 matches remaining, Hearts now hold a six-point advantage over Rangers, who are managed by Danny Rohl, as they prepare to face a challenging away match against the fourth-placed team.

Reigning champions Celtic trail Hearts by a further three points, although they have an additional game in hand.

Listen to the reaction to Hearts' narrow victory over Hibernian, secured by a late goal.

The focus shifts to the upcoming match between Motherwell and Rangers, with attention on O'Neill and Nygren.

Hearts have extended their lead in the Premiership with a hard-fought win over Hibernian, courtesy of a late goal.

A review of the season's early fixtures reveals that Hearts have consistently demonstrated the ability to score late goals and secure victories.

One notable example is the match against Dundee United at Tannadice, where Stuart Findlay scored a late winner to overturn a 2-1 deficit and earn McInnes' team all three points.

Another instance was the win against Livingston in August, where Alexandros Kyziridis scored the decisive goal to secure a 2-1 victory.

Craig Halkett's stoppage-time goal in the first derby of the season was another crucial moment, as he scored from a Sabah Kerjota cross to secure a win.

It's not just goals that have made a difference; Craig Gordon's save against Dundee, when the team was down to 10 men, was instrumental in preserving a 1-0 lead.

Gordon's exceptional goalkeeping prevented Emile Acquah's header from leveling the score, ensuring Hearts secured two vital points.

Statistically, Hearts have scored 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of league matches, with only Rangers scoring more during this period.

According to head coach Derek McInnes, the team's desire to influence the game's outcome has been a key factor in their success, as seen in Harry Milne's determination to deliver the ball to the byeline and Tomas Magnusson's efforts to score.

McInnes expressed his pride in the team's ability to score crucial goals, stating that it's rare for them not to find the back of the net, and praised the electric atmosphere at Tynecastle.

In addition to scoring late goals, Hearts are developing the habit of winning matches despite not performing at their best, a trait often associated with title-winning teams.

Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew noted that Hearts' ability to win ugly is a characteristic of teams that challenge for titles and win leagues.

McInnes' attacking lineup struggled to impose themselves in the match, with many pundits criticizing their below-par performance.

Former Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson acknowledged that the team's performance was not impressive but emphasized that the result is all that matters, with 12 matches remaining to create history.

Stevenson struggled to identify a standout player, except for Harry Milne, who made a significant effort to drive the team forward.

Scott Allan, a former Hibs and Celtic midfielder, offered a more nuanced assessment of the match, stating that Hearts' victory was unexpected given their lackluster performance.

Allan reflected that the win, despite not playing well, speaks volumes about the team's resilience and the foundation being built under McInnes.

The focus now shifts to the upcoming match against Rangers at Ibrox, a challenging fixture for Hearts.

McInnes is unlikely to be concerned about the team's performance, given the significance of the win and the position it puts Hearts in ahead of the match on Sunday.

The match against Rangers will be a crucial test for Hearts, who won at Ibrox earlier in the season, their first away victory against the blue half of Glasgow since 2014.

At the time, it was unimaginable that Hearts would still be leading the standings when they returned to Ibrox.

Ryan Stevenson predicts that if Hearts secure a win at Ibrox, they will likely go on to win the league, a bold statement ahead of a pivotal match.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan views on Hearts, visit our dedicated page.

Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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