One step from final ambition

7 Apr 1995

HEARTS striker John Robertson yesterday set his sights on Airdrie and tomorrow's Scottish Cup semi-final, saying: "This could be my last chance to be a winner."

Robertson played in the Tynecastle side which lost 3-0 to Aberdeen in the 1986 cup final.

As a raw 21-year-old he expected big occasions to come along every other season, but instead the Edinburgh club have failed at the semi-final hurdle on four occasions since.

Tomorrow they face first division Airdrie, who themselves beat Hearts at this stage three seasons ago on penalties after a replay, and Robertson said: "I can remember back in 1986 that I imagined I would play in another four or five cup finals.

"The sad truth is that it hasn't happened.

This is our sixth semi-final in nine seasons and we've only been to that one cup final.

Myself and the other guys who were in the team then know that time is running out.

There might not be many more chances.

"We could end up as good club players who never won a thing and that would be a huge disappointment.

It's almost a decade since we were in a final and that's not good enough for a club like Hearts."

Craig Levein, Gary Mackay, Neil Berry and keeper Henry Smith are others who featured in 1986.

Robertson has recovered from a knock suffered against Partick Thistle on Tuesday night, which should mean him taking his usual place at Hampden.

Keeper Craig Nelson, whose mother is on Airdrie's commercial staff, is also close to full fitness after a knee injury and should replace veteran Smith.

Defender Dave McPherson is bidding for a third successive cup final appearance after winning and losing with Rangers in 1993 and 1994 against Aberdeen and Dundee United respectively.

McPherson rejoined Hearts last October from Rangers and has been in fine form since.

"People said it was a downward step for me when I left Ibrox, but I didn't see it that way," he said.

"I knew almost everybody at Tynecastle, having only been away two years, and that helped me settle in.

I'd be very proud to end the season on a high, but we know Airdrie are formidable opponents after that semi-final defeat in 1992."

Hearts have knocked out cup favourites Rangers and holders Dundee United in their run this season, but McPherson warns the toughest test could come tomorrow.

He said: "The semi is the hardest stage, I always feel.

If you are in the final you can enjoy the day, but you must get there first."

Manager Tommy McLean, a cup winner with Rangers as a player and in 1991 as manager of Motherwell, last night took his semi-final squad away to a hotel to prepare.

After two premier division defeats, against Falkirk and Partick Thistle, McLean is urging for no complacency at a club that has not won the Scottish Cup since 1956.

"We've heard about how we are favourites, but we must show the right application on the day," said McLean.

"We haven't done that in the past two games and it just shows you can't switch on and switch off your form in football.

"The longer term players here have had their disappointments, but they have to learn from them.

Nobody can change the semi-final record -- but it's what we do now that counts."

McLean is hopeful that only long-term injury victim Stephen Frail will be unavailable for selection when he decides on his line-up closer to the kick-off.

Taken from the Herald