WHAT A COCA CHOKER!; New brave Hearts valiant in battle.

Hearts' brave new boys did them proud as their cast-iron defence held Celtic at bay.

They took everything that was thrown at them and came back fighting.

And this was in spite of losing Stefano Salvatori who was sent off in the second half for the wildest of wild tackles.

Hearts, with four players suspended after Saturday's red card shame at Ibrox, included new signing Andy Thorn in their team to face Celtic in the Coca-Cola Cup quarter-final at Tynecastle.

Thorn, a short-term signing from Crystal Palace, took his place in the defence alongside Dave McPherson.

Hearts also included teenager Gary Naysmith who was starting his first game for the club.

Naysmith came on as a substitute against Motherwell in the final League game of last season and manager Jim Jefferies had no hesitation in including him in place of the suspended Neil Pointon.

Midfielder Jeremy Goss, who had recovered from a groin injury, had to be content with a place on the bench.

Celtic were without the suspended Brian O'Neil and Jackie McNamara and Stuart Gray came into the starting line-up after last Saturday's win over Dundee United.

Even with a makeshift team, Hearts were clearly fired up for the match following their Ibrox nightmare.

They forced Celtic to concede a couple of early corners and John Robertson had a chance after only eight minutes.

A Neil McManus cross caused Celtic problems but when the ball broke to Robertson he wasted a good chance by completely missing his kick. Celtic came closest to taking the lead in the 12th minute.

A Jackie McNamara cross found its way to Pierre Van Hooydonk and from the tightest of angles the Dutchman forced an excellent save from Rousset.

The game burst into life shortly before half-time. Van Hooydonk fired a free-kick straight at the Hearts wall and then Robertson had the best chance to open the scoring five minutes from the break.

Salvatori put him in with a superb through pass but Robertson shot against goalkeeper Marshall. Celtic's response was swift, a volley from Andreas Thom bringing a fine save from Rousset.

When the goalkeeper failed to hold it, the ball broke to Paolo Di Canio but his shot was also beaten out by the keeper only for Jorge Cadete to get an opportunity.

His shot was also blocked by the keeper.

The second half was a dour battle with no quarter being given.

Hearts started well and after just a minute Marshall was called into action when he tipped a 20-yard shot from Colin Cameron over the crossbar.

A minute later, he came to Celtic's rescue again when he dived to his left to keep out a fierce shot from Hearts newcomer Thorn.

Celtic were struggling, but it took the best save of the match from Rousset to keep out a shot from the edge of the box by Van Hooydonk.

Hearts were reduced to 10 men in 61 minutes when Salvatori was red-carded for his second bookable offence for a foul on Di Canio to become the fifth Hearts player in two matches to be sent off.

Neither side was letting up and exchanges continued to be wild in this Tynecastle thriller as it went into extra-time.
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