It feels like every weekend brings a new twist in the Scottish Premiership title race, and this was no different. After Celtic got the better of fourth-placed Motherwell on Saturday, leaders Hearts slipped up at Kilmarnock and Rangers took advantage in Sunday's lunch time kick-off with a 1-0 win at St Mirren.

Scotland's top three are now separated by just three points with eight matches left in the best title race in a generation. This type of tightly fought pursuit is not unprecedented in Scotland, but it has been a long time since three teams were last in contention going down the final stretch. The same three clubs were in the mix in the 1997-98 campaign, with Celtic eventually triumphing after Hearts fell away. Four years prior, with two points for a win, Rangers won the league, finishing three clear of Aberdeen and four ahead of Motherwell. And back in 1983, Dundee United finished one point clear of both Celtic and Aberdeen.

Rangers three points off top with narrow win at St Mirren. Leaders Hearts falter with defeat at impressive Kilmarnock. Yang double helps Celtic to crucial win over Motherwell.

Outsiders might assume the Old Firm will now run away with things, given their historic dominance, but it is not quite that simple. The top three still have to play each other after the league splits and Derek McInnes' Hearts side have responded superbly to any setbacks this season. Still, the pressure has not yet been ramped up to the current levels and it remains to be seen who will cope best under such conditions.

Rangers went to Paisley on Sunday knowing they needed to win in order to make the most of Hearts' defeat and also to arrest their own stuttering form, having drawn three of their past four league outings and been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic. They were far from their best against managerless St Mirren, but crucially got over the line.

Former Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands - who won two league titles during his time at Ibrox - says that is all that matters at this stage of the season. "You don't have to play well to go away and get the result," he told BBC Scotland. "It wasn't the greatest game to watch but Rangers got what they came for, they got three points and closed the gap to Hearts."

"It's a huge win for them, it doesn't really matter how well they played." Watch: St Mirren v Rangers highlights. Hearts still lead the way, but have now lost three straight away matches. The Tynceastle outfit have routinely bounced back from losses this season - they are yet to lose back-to-back games this term - but are still without key duo Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin.

The Scotland striker and Australia midfielder are due back from injury next week, which Scott Allan - a Premiership winner with Celtic - thinks will provide a welcome boost. "It's all about how they bounce back," he said. "What they have done this season is when they have had a result they haven't wanted, they have come back the following week and got three points."

"Once it gets to the split they will have Shankland and Devlin back and Hearts are a lot stronger with them. It was always going to be a difficult game at Kilmarnock and it was a game of moments. Hearts lose the goal and then they're huffing and puffing. I still think Hearts have it in them to bounce back. The fixtures before the split are crucial and we are going week to week with these teams."

Allan also believes the lack of title winners in the Hearts dressing room could prove pivotal as the season reaches its finale. "Hearts don't have a manager that's done it either," he said. "Derek - with Aberdeen - ran Celtic close and fell off towards the end of the season. At the same time, you would assume he's learned from those situations."

For all their struggles this season - both on and off-field - Celtic appear to be hitting form at the right time. Under interim manager Martin O'Neill, the Parkhead outfit won away in Stuttgart in the Europa League, drew 2-2 at Rangers in the league before knocking their Glasgow rivals out of the Scottish Cup on penalties. They then saw off the challenge of Motherwell in front of their own fans on Saturday, no mean feat given the way Jens Berthel Askou has got the Steelmen playing this term.

"Right now, Celtic have the better momentum of the three," Lovenkrands said. "With Hearts losing three away games in a row and Celtic closing the gap, Hearts are in a tough position. Rangers have got the better fixtures in the next two games, so it could go anywhere."

Hearts host Dundee and Motherwell either side of a trip to Livingston before the split, Celtic are away to both Dundee sides before hosting St Mirren, while Rangers host Aberdeen and Dundee United before going to Falkirk.

Celtic have kept themselves in the hunt despite injuries to key players this season and Allan believes that adversity will have built strength in the Parkhead camp. "Celtic have missed Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter Vickers, Jota and still ground out results," he said. "To go without [Callum] McGregor and [Kieran] Tierney to Ibrox and still take the result, that's a winning dressing room. I think they have something that the others don't."

Indeed, when asked who they were backing to top the table on 16 May, both pundits agreed. "If I'm putting money on it, Celtic," Allan said. "I'm the same," Lovenkrands responded. "Before this weekend, I thought Hearts were the ones to lose it, but now, I think it's swung towards Celtic."