Gordon wants to relive cup glory as a player

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS star Craig Gordon was a supporter cheering on from the stands the last time the club reached a cup final - now he’s desperate to experience the occasion as a player.

The Gorgie side go into tonight’s CIS Insurance Cup quarter-final clash against Dunfermline at East End Park just two matches away from a return to a cup final for the first time in more than six years.

With Rangers and Celtic also paired together at least one non-Old Firm team will definitely contest the showpiece match to be held at Hampden in March.

Gordon was just 14 when the Jambos ended a 42-year wait for silverware by beating Rangers in the Scottish Cup final on May 16, 1998, and the scenes that day are etched in the young keeper’s memory.

And while he admits the day at Celtic Park was the highlight of his years following the club as a supporter, he revealed that playing at the national stadium in a cup final for Hearts would far surpass that occasion.

"I hadn’t signed for the club yet when Hearts were last in a cup final which shows how long ago it was but I was there in the crowd as a fan," he said.

"The atmosphere inside the ground was unbelievable and for the team to win just really capped it all off.

"The celebrations both at the match and in Edinburgh afterwards were unbelievable and you could see how much it meant to everybody.

"When I signed for the club at the start of 1999/2000 there were still guys who had been involved in the game and Jim Jefferies was still in charge.

"While that day was great, I think to get to another final with Hearts would top that."

But for Gordon to realise his dream he admits that he and his team-mates will have to improve on performances in cup competitions in recent years. The players are all aware that we haven’t done as well as in the cups as we probably should have done," added the Scotland internationalist.

"We have done well in the league and qualified for Europe but a club like Hearts also has to look to do well in the cups.

"We have gone out to lower league opposition in the past and we are all determined to try and put that right this season."

The Jambos go into the clash in Fife on the back of a morale-boosting victory at Pittodrie that saw them move back into third spot in the SPL.

And although tonight’s match will take place on Dunfermline’s plastic pitch - a surface Hearts have yet to record a victory on - Gordon says that confidence in the Tynecastle camp is high.

"Against Aberdeen we really ground out a victory and we had to dig really deep. We have struggled in the past when we have come back from European matches but that win maybe shows that we are starting to get used to playing most midweeks as well as weekends.

"To be honest, when you have a heavy fixture list it means you are doing well in competitions so we would quite happily have another game later in the year if it means progressing tonight.

"That, of course, won’t be easy as Dunfermline are a good side. There is also the fact that we are playing on their pitch which isn’t ideal. We’ve been there a few times but I don’t think it’s something you ever get used to.

"It’s the same for both teams though and the most important thing is that we work hard and get the result to see us into the next round."

The Jambos now have one member of last year’s CIS Cup-winning Livingston side in their squad in Jamie McAllister.

The left-sided player netted one of the two goals that clinched the Lions’ first-ever major trophy in a stunning 2-0 victory over Hibs.

And McAllister admits that victory has given him the taste for success and he is desperate for a repeat with his new club.

"It was a tremendous day and night and hopefully it will be the first of many in my career," he said.

"It surprises me that Hearts have only been involved in one CIS Cup final in the last ten years because some of their league finishes have been superb. Hopefully, we can change that this year because last year was a great experience."

But McAllister is taking nothing for granted and knows that the Pars will provide him and his team-mates with a stern test.

"I know it’s an old cliché but we just have to take one game at a time," McAllister said.

"It’s a great opportunity for us to progress particularly as the Old Firm are due to meet as well but we don’t have a good record at East End Park so we can’t take anything for granted.

"They will be up for the game as well as us so we need to keep our focus, work hard, and hopefully we can progress."

Taken from the Scotsman