Blackburn Rovers reject comes up trumps for Hearts United's hold on cup is broken by Millar

IAN PAUL

13 Mar 1995

Hearts 2, Dundee United 1

INSPIRED by two goals from a man who was freed by Blackburn Rovers four years ago, Hearts kept up their astonishing record against United, who have not won at Tynecastle for 10 years, and, in the process, joined their capital rivals in the last four of the Tennents Scottish Cup.

There was nothing exceptional about their performance, although John Millar's goals were well taken, but it was filled with the kind of willing determination that invariably succeeds on these occasions, and the fact that they had to come from behind to get there is ample testament to their spirit.

United, on the other hand, were a let-down, especially after the way they opened the tie, playing exciting, intelligent, attacking football that threatened to leave the home team scrambling in their wake.

Yet even the finest start imaginable, a goal by the Brazilian, Sergio, in four minutes, did not motivate them towards a victory which would have helped fulfil their manager's promise that they would defend their trophy at Hampden on May 27.

Now, they have to face up to a battle against relegation and, after this disappointment, it might be difficult for Ivan Golac to lift their morale.

The defeat also may have sealed Golac's future.

For Hearts, this will be their sixth semi-final in nine years and keeps them on course to win their first major trophy for 33 years.

They owe a lot to Millar, who was in the right place twice to head home, first to equalise Sergio's goal and then to put his side in front.

He won the man-of-the-match award, although only just in front of team-mate Stephen Frail.

United's response was never impressive and in the end the team that truly wanted to win got their just reward.

Having beaten Rangers in the last round and now the holders, Hearts are entitled to harbour hopes that this might really be their year.

Tynecastle's well-worn pitch may not have been the ideal surface for a touch of Brazilian class but the United striker, Sergio, managed it none the less within four minutes when he scored.

David Hannah supplied the pass but there was a lot of work to be done by the Brazilian, who used his close control to manoeuvre between two defenders, Millar and Dave McPherson, and his deceptive, long stride into the penalty area took him in front of the chasing Neil Berry.

All that was left was to beat Craig Nelson, and the Brazilian did it the impudent way, putting the ball between the keeper's legs.

For a long spell after that United, who had surprised Hearts by using three players up front, including Christian Dailly, looked distinctly superior to the capital side.

Their interplay in midfield and the incisiveness of Dailly and Sergio forced Hearts into changing to a straightforward back four, and gradually that helped the Edinburgh team plug the leaks and climb into the tie.

In 21 minutes Millar made the first of two vital interventions to confirm his side's recovery.John Colquhoun was fouled by Billy McKinlay on the edge of the penalty area, and when the free-kick by Frail came across, the United defenders ambushed McPherson but left Millar, coming in on the far post, and he neatly headed the ball home.

Sergio occasionally burst into the action with his exciting control and strength in resisting tackles, but United's domination ended with that goal and after Jim McInally had been booked for a foul on Frail, Millar repeated his trick from the other side of goal.

The corner from the left, by Gary Mackay, was headed on by Willie Jamieson and there was Millar to head the ball into the right-hand side of the goal.

United almost snatched an equaliser before the interval when Hannah's cut-back was touched forward by Sergio but Jamieson, who was earning his money, cleared off the line.

Hearts looked keen to get on with it at the start of the second half but Brian Hamilton was a bit too keen with a late tackle on Scott Crabbe, and was promptly shown the yellow card.

A couple of minutes later Crabbe was taken off, replaced by Jerren Nixon, and then Hearts substituted Kevin Thomas for John Colquhoun but United were beginning to look more threatening again.

They forced Hearts back into defence and from one corner on the right, there was a ferocious scramble before the danger was cleared.

However, Hearts substitute Thomas had the easiest of chances to settle the tie when Gordan Petric made an appalling error when, trying to find Maurice Malpas, he laid the ball in front of the striker who had a clear shot at goal with only the keeper to beat but he managed to smack it well wide of target.

Hearts then replaced David Hagen with Scott Leitch but by now it was all about energy rather than subtlety.

With 15 minutes left United tried their last throw, with Craig Brewster coming on for Hannah, giving them four forwards.

Thomas had to go off for treatment to a leg injury, leaving Hearts with 10 men, both subs having been used, but he reappeared within a minute.

Nixon was the third man to be booked near the end as his team faded wearily out of the spotlight for another season.

HEARTS -- Nelson, Frail, Millar, Berry, Jamieson, McPherson, Colquhoun, Hamilton, Robertson, Mackay, Hagen.

Substitutes -- Thomas, Leitch, Smith.

DUNDEE UNITED -- O'Hanlon, McInally, Malpas, Hannah, Petric, Welsh, Bowman, McKinlay, Sergio, Crabbe, Dailly.

Substitutes -- Brewster, Nixon, Jorgensen.

Referee -- W Crombie (Edinburgh).

Taken from the Herald