Anyone can make a mistake..but mine was worst of the lot; NOW ROUSSET LOOKS AHEAD.

Hearts keeper Gilles Rousset has had enough of looking behind him.

The last time he looked behind him in a Scottish Cup final it was to see a Brian Laudrup cross squirm between his legs and into the net.

That Hampden howler was one of the costliest mistakes of his career as Rangers went on to break sad Hearts with a 5-1 defeat, back in 1996.

Looking back, Rousset can also see a career in France and Scotland which has included three finals and three defeats.

But yesterday he banished all that to the past. He knows Hearts have a chance to end their trophy famine spanning 36 years.

And instead of looking behind him, the Frenchman's sights are on making history.

He said: "The mistake in that final is in the past now. It was two years ago and everyone makes mistakes in life. I've done it at the worst time, but it's part of my history. It is time to make amends, and I am looking to the future.

"In some ways, Hearts and myself have the same history. I have waited for so long to win a trophy and so have they.

"It's time to win one now. Hopefully we will do it because it is time for the fans and the players to weep tears of joy instead of tears of defeat."

Since that black day, Hearts have also lost to Rangers in the Coca-Cola Cup final - 4-3 last year.

But Rousset believes Saturday could be third time lucky.

He said: "We have improved against Rangers over the last two finals. The first time they were too strong for us.

"But the second time we came very close. Gazza played brilliantly for three minutes and that was the difference. But this Hearts side is the best since I've been here, and I think we proved it in the league this season.

"This this time we know we can win."

Experience has taught Rousset that there is no place in history for losers.

He can't believe that 36 years have passed since Hearts last landed a trophy.

So this time he doesn't care if his side have a stinker, as long as they end up heroes.

Rousset said: "The last time the fans were proud of us because we played well, but lost.

"Now is the time for us to play very badly and win. Thirty-six years without a trophy is unbelievable because we have such a big support, and we are such a big club.

"We have had plenty opportunities to win, but missed them. We have come so close on many occasions. Playing well but coming away with nothing won't make the fans truly happy. Only a trophy can do that.

"We can be heroes if we win this one."

Colin Cameron is another Jambo hoping to make up for the club's failure to win the league.

The little midfielder is one of the few players at Tynecastle to know what it's like to lift a major trophy after playing in Raith's memorable Coca-Cola Cup success over Celtic.

And he reckons the pain of falling out of the title equation will spur the club on at Parkhead.

Cameron said: "It's fair to say the league ended up as a very big disappointment.

"We watched Celtic and Rangers dropping points knowing there was nothing we could do about it.

"If we had been able to hold it together the league would have ended up at Tynecastle but we let it slip.

"But we still take plenty from the fact that we're in third place 18 points ahead of our next rivals, Kilmarnock.

"Our problem is that Rangers will be angry about losing the title as well and not getting 10 in a row.

"But we're determined to bring the cup here and end the long wait."

Cameron admits he's disappointed not to have made the World Cup squad for France.

But he is now aiming to make the squad for the European Champion-ship in the year 2000.

He said: "It would have been a bonus to be involved in the World Cup squad. I enjoyed playing at B level and scoring against Wales.

"Now, hopefully, I can fight my way into the European Champion-ship squad.

"But the first thing is to bring some silverware to Tynecastle."

Taken from the Daily Record