A month on and reflecting on the end of the season I think things need to be put into perspective.
First things first...Hearts didn't "bottle it" at the end of the season.
They certainly did 40 years ago at Dens Park, but not this time.
They just weren't good enough to see it over the line.
Their away form throughout the campaign cost them the league...nothing else...not dodgy decisions or SFA conspiracies.
1 victory in their last 8 away against against 9 man Hibs at Easter Road, and even in that game they struggled to get the win.
Celtic raised their game in the top six matches and their big game experience and ability to cope with the pressure at the business end of the season saw them through, and of course they had the sense to get Martin O'Neill back. O'Neill worked a near miracle by managing a mediocre Celtic squad to the league and cup double given where they were when he was brought back.
Hearts had a great season no doubt, they came very close to achieving the seemingly impossible,, and IMO the gap between Celtic and Rangers and the two Edinburgh clubs and Aberdeen, whilst it will certainly be restored next season, I don't think it's going to be as big a gap as before which should give us all some hope.
Hearts will be favourites for third next season, but I think they will find things much more difficult.
They ultimately failed to get the job done and IMO they will never again have a better chance of winning the league.