JAMIE: I KO'D LIVI THEN LOST MY TEETH

Feb 28 2005

By Colin Duncan

JAMIE McALLISTER last night kicked former club Livingston in the teeth as he booked Hearts a place in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

McAllister scored the clincher in the 2-1 victory at Tynecastle but the victory came at a price - the loss of his front two gnashers McAllister now faces a trip to the dentist this morning as a result of a second-half clash with Gabor Vincze.

He said: 'I lost the corners of my two front teeth. I just headed the ball to the left and Vincze came in and caught me.

'It was really sore but I'm not too bothered because we won.

'It's nice to be in another semi-final as I've been fortunate to play in one with every club I've been at.

'I've been in five so it will be nice to go back to Hampden.

'It was also nice to get my first goal against my old club - and it was with my left foot as well.'

Hearts boss John Robertson insisted he was not unduly concerned as Livi pushed for an equaliser in the final half-hour.

Robbo said: 'I wasn't nervous, not at all. There was nervousness coming from the stands but Craig Gordon didn't have a save to make in the last 20 minutes. And there was just one clearance from Christophe Berra.

'We should have had the game dead and buried at half-time. We should have been five or six up.

'We had a few bad misses and there were a few great saves.

'We knew we needed a third goal to make it a comfortable afternoon.

'But all credit to Livingston, they changed their formation and personnel and got the goal.

'They had lots of possession but they never looked like they were going to break us down at the end.'

Robbo admits he wants to avoid holders Celtic when the semi-final draw is made later today.

He said: 'I think the other three managers,if they are honest,would prefer to avoid Celtic.

'But whoever we get it will be a very tough match. Hibs have been terrific this season, Dundee United were outstanding against Aberdeen and Celtic are Celtic.'

Livi boss Richard Gough admitted his plan to deploy defender Greg Strong as a striker backfired spectacularly.

Gough abandoned the experiment after just 15 minutes and drafted the big Englishman back to marshall Livi's leaky defence. However,while Strong was awesome at the back the game was already beyond Livi, who conceded the opener after60seconds and were two down inside 10 minutes.

Craig Easton's second-half goal gave Livi hope but Hearts held on. Gough said: 'The way things have gone I wanted a change as we haven't had much of a goal threat.

'Greg played his last four matches for Boston United up front as a target man.But Plan A backfired after 10 minutes and at that stage it looked like we could lose six or seven.

'We went for broke in the second half and put three subs on,but we couldn't get a second.

'I said before the game it would have been great to reach the semi--final but our main aim is to stay in the division.

'I keep saying to the boys to keep it tight for the first 10 minutes. But we end up two down and gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

'It's our own fault. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot.'

Taken from the Daily Record