Tam McManus backs the Hibs players to try and beat Celtic. #celticfc #hibs

On today’s PLZ Soccer Football Show, Tam McManus answers back to Ryan Stevenson, “I would never question anyone’s integrity!”, as the row over whether Hibs might lie down to Celtic on Sunday dominates the panel.

Peter Martin, Tam McManus and Alan “Roughie” Rough preview a massive May Day weekend in Scottish football: Hearts vs Rangers at Tynecastle on Monday with Derek McInnes “isn’t looking for favours from anyone”, Danny Röhl preparing his Rangers troops for the title-race showdown, Hibs vs Celtic at Easter Road on Sunday with Manager of the Month Martin O’Neill chasing the double, and the question of whether Hearts can take “10 points from the remaining 12” and be Scottish Premiership champions.

Joe Newell has come out swinging in defence of his Hibs teammates — “no danger that the players will lie down” — and the panel debate Chris Sutton’s infamous 2003 Dunfermline lying-down accusation, with Tam defending the professionalism of the modern Scottish Premiership player. Looking ahead to Hibs vs Celtic at Easter Road, the panel preview Daizen Maeda’s red-hot return to form (“he’s back on the ball, terrorising defences”), Martin O’Neill’s Celtic team selection (Čvančara bombed out, Kelechi Iheanacho on as impact sub), Sebastian Tounekti’s wide role and whether Hibs can replicate their 4-2 Celtic Park win from May 2023. Predictions: Roughie says Celtic 2-1, Tam goes for a narrow Celtic win.

Then the panel turns to Hearts vs Rangers at Tynecastle in the red-hot atmosphere of Monday’s title-race showdown. Derek McInnes expects “a proper scrap” — set-piece battles, both teams’ record on dead-ball situations, Danny Röhl’s Rangers tactical setup, and whether Hearts can hold their nerve to win the Scottish Premiership. Plus: Scottish Premiership Manager of the Year debate (McInnes vs Martin O’Neill vs Danny Röhl), the Kilmarnock vs Dundee United relegation tussle, Jim Goodwin’s squad picks for next season, and Falkirk vs Motherwell on Saturday — a result that could decide whether Hibs or Falkirk finish fifth and grab a Europa Conference League spot.