VLADAS IVANAUSKAS masterminded Hearts' Scottish Cup romp over Hibs yesterday then admitted he could go on to lift the trophy and still be sacked in the summer.

The icy Lithuanian coach didn't celebrate any of the four goals which sealed a glory day at Hampden for the Tynecastle club and secured an end-of-season showpiece against Second Division shocktroops Gretna.

Ivanauskas then immediately banned his players from toasting their derby success, ordering them instead to focus on Wednesday night's league clash with Celtic at Parkhead.

And he admitted he'll face the axe from owner Vladimir Romanov if results begin to slide - regardless of what happens back at Hampden on May 13.

Ivanauskas said: "Winning the Scottish Cup will not give me the right to lead the team next season. Right now I'm only thinking from game to game. That's what I'll do until the end of the season.

"If Mr Romanov then decides to give the job to someone else then no problem. I believe I have the qualities to manage this club but only results will keep me in the job.

"Do I want to be the manager next season? All I want is to win the next game. And as for Vladimir, he is only thinking about the Celtic game."

Ivanauskas was remarkably downcast despite the emphatic nature of his side's demolition job on their derby rivals.

Ahat-trick from Paul Hartley and a strike from Edgar as Jankauskas condemned Tony Mowbray's patchwork side to another day of despair at the National Stadium, a year after crashing out of the competition at the same stage to Dundee United.

Ivanauskas said: "It's a good day for the players, club and supporters. It's a great result but now Wednesday is the most important thing.

"Every game is pressure but I know the character of my players and their mentality. Yes there was pressure but it was a nice pressure.

"The players did a good job. They worked hard, kept their discipline and scored goals. It was a good performance.

"This will give us a great boost in our attempt to make the Champions League. Starting now we prepare for the game against Celtic. Celebrations are for the end of the season. There will be no parties tonight."

But while Ivanauskas remained in sober mood there was no hiding the elation of Hearts' players and fans who launched into wild celebrations on the final whistle.

And Ivanauskas' right-hand man John McGlynn said: "He's not a happy chappy, is he? I think it's the make-up of the place he comes from."

But Ivanauskas was already fretting on his starting line-up for Wednesday's showdown with the runaway champions.

Both skipper Steven Pressley and Jose Goncalves had to be substituted after suffering concusion during yesterday's triumph and neither are expected to play any part in the Parkhead clash. Record Sport columnist Pressley - who stayed inside at half-time on the advice of medics - said: "I wanted to play on but the doc pulled rank. Two bouts of concussion in a week was too much, he said, but a prouder day I can't remember. The doc told me of the consequences so I'll be out of the Celtic game now."

But Hartley - a one-time Celtic signing target - will be raring to go after bagging the first hat-trick of his professional career in dramatic fashion.

And Ivanauskas said: "Paul is a big player in every game. He scored three goals today but he was the leader of the team all over the pitch. Paul is a great player."

But it was abject despair for Mowbray, whose under-strength side never really threatened to carry the contest to Hearts.

They were 1-0 down before half time when Hartley notched his first goal and they were dead and burried after two second-half blunders from keeper Zibi Malkowski sent Hearts marching towards the Final.

First, Malkowski left a gaping hole at his right-hand post, inviting for Hartley to curl home a stunning free-kick. Then the Pole misjudged a through ball and was rounded by Jankauskas as the Tynecastle team stormed into a three-goal lead.

To complete Hibs' day of misery, Ivan Sproule was sent off for stamping on Saulius Cesanauskis then veteran Gary Smith was red-carded three minutes from time for hauling down Michel Pospisil inside the box.

Hartley slotted home from the spot to round off the rout and complete his own personal treble.

Mowbray said: "We are all disappointed, especially for the supporters who would have found that particularly difficult.

"But as far as the game was concerned there was nothing really in it. I thought we maybe shaded the first half but it was a typical Paul Hartley goal - arriving in the six-yard box to score. He's done that against us a couple of times - that's his trademark.

"At half-time we felt we were in the ascendacy but the nature of the goals we lost in the second half was disappointing.

"You don't mind losing against a team when they have really earned their goals but we gifted Hearts their goals today."

Taken from the Daily Record