Shock Value

Alan Campbell reports on the factors that give underdogs Gretna a fighting chance for the cup

CAN Gretna beat Hearts at Hampden on Saturday and pull off the greatest Scottish Cup final upset of all time? Probably not, but the result may not be the foregone conclusion that the odds would suggest.

There is, for example, less between the sides than there was in the FA Cup final of 1973 when Sunderland, then in the old English Second Division, defeated Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley. Don Revie’s team were, at the time, among the elite in Europe.

Gretna are officially the 23rd best club in Scotland, but only because they are having to work their way up through their leagues. Having beaten First Division champions St Mirren, as well as St Johnstone, Clyde and Dundee, on this Scottish Cup run, their true status is a top-15 club.

More than pseudo-statistics, though, there are three factors which might make this a much tighter final than expected.

The first is that Hearts’ bruising success in pipping Rangers for second place in the Premierleague must have used up considerable physical and mental reserves. For weeks now, Hearts have been playing a cup final every game.

Mentally, too, it would only be natural for their players to underestimate Gretna and assume that the hardest task has been achieved in winning a Champions League slot. The prospect of facing Gretna won’t fire the adrenalin like tackling the Old Firm.

These are potential negatives for Hearts, but the positive for Gretna is the sheer professionalism of manager Rowan Alexander and his backroom staff. Having tied up the Second Division title last month, Alexander and assistant Davie Irons have had as many days to plan their day in the spotlight at Hampden as Hearts have had worrying about whether they could fend off Rangers.

A week in the Spanish sun only added to the relaxed air in the Gretna camp, and Alexander pointed out: “The semi-final [against Dundee] was our players’ big day. That’s why we feel so confident – we’re so relaxed, there’s no tension there. Collectively there’s no signs of nerves, and I don’t envisage seeing any.

“I’ve no worries whatsoever about the players freezing. There’s a strong winning mentality and resilience in the team. They create chance after chance in games which breeds excitement. We’re a good side and we’ve proved it throughout the season.”

Gretna have failed to score in just two games this campaign, and although their progression to the final has been disciplined rather than spectacular, they have, in James Grady and Kenny Deuchar, two natural scorers who may find a way to exploit a Hearts defence likely to be missing Andy Webster.

Hearts, by contrast, don’t possess a lethal finisher, and have been heavily reliant on the midfield goals of Rudi Skacel and Paul Hartley. It will be a major surprise if the latter isn’t allocated a man-marker.

Alexander, for one, is aware of the Scotland midfielder’s menace. “Hearts have got a great work ethic led by Hartley, and the leadership qualities of him and Steven Pressley demand the same commitment from the rest of team,” he said.

“The pitch at Hampden is obviously big, and Hearts may try to keep possession. We’ve got to be disciplined enough not to run about all over the place and tire ourselves out.”

Win or lose, Gretna are now assured of an almost implausible place in next season’s Uefa Cup, and Alexander’s eyes lit up as he savoured the prospect.

“It’s one of the ambitions of your life as a footballer to play in these competitions,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to experience the Uefa Cup at St Mirren. The buzz it gave me as a 23-year-old was unbelievable, especially as we played Feyenoord, who had Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit and Johnny Rep in their side.

“Qualifying for the tournament is a magnificent achievement for the club and the players. A lot of them had gone through their careers and thought it was something that had passed them by. It’s an unbelievable situation.

“I thought we couldn’t beat last season, but we have. Can it get any better? We’ll probably be in the same situation next year, rewriting the record books again.

“That’s what we’re all in it for. It’s what drives us on – why stop? We’re moving at a rate which other people can’t comprehend and can’t accept. It’s our firm belief we can do so much more.”

Confidence, it should be noted, is not something that Alexander lacks, and nor do his players, most of whom have dropped down the divisions to live the dream with Gretna.

One of these, skipper Chris Innes, was forced to watch his former club, Dundee United, play Celtic in last year’s final. Now it’s his turn, and he has no fear of Hearts, or their strikers Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar.

“I’ve played against Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton,” said the central defender, who played in the 2001 CIS Cup final against Celtic, “so I’m not worried by reputations.”

Taken from the Sunday Herald