Hearts hero Crawford hopes it's not a rout

IAN Crawford, a Scottish Cup hero for Hearts, fully expects to see the Tynecastle side lift the trophy against Gretna on Saturday but just hopes the final does not turn into a massacre.

The former outside-left, who scored twice in the 1956 final when Hearts beat Celtic 3-1, is aware his former club are overwhelming favourites to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their triumph by overcoming Gretna.

Crawford is now based in England but he will head to the national stadium this weekend as a guest of the club and expects the current side to attain legend status.

However, Crawford hopes the final is not a boring, one-sided affair against a side that has just won promotion from the Second Division.

He said: "I have got an invitation from the club and I will be heading up to the game with my son and I'm very much looking forward to it.

"Hearts must be favourites to win the game but hopefully it won't be a massacre and Gretna give a good account of themselves. I don't get much of the Scottish press down here but I can imagine Hearts are overwhelming favourites for the game."

Hearts players have shown Gretna respect this week by insisting they won't be taking them lightly.

Crawford, despite predicting a Hearts victory, is only too aware shocks can happen. The former Arsenal reserve coach was in charge of Finnish side FC Ilves, now known as Tampere United, when they managed to draw with the Italian giants AS Roma in the European Cup.

He added: "I've been involved in football games where the underdogs have done well. I was actually in charge of a Finnish side that managed to draw with Roma 1-1 in the European Cup.

"Although we were beaten in the away leg it just shows you what can happen.

"When you are underdogs it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it is amazing how players can play above their normal levels; this has happened throughout history."

Edinburgh-born Crawford, who was released by Hibs as a teenager, became a Hearts hero when he scored two goals in the win over Celtic in the 1956 final. He went on to help Hearts win the league twice and the League Cup twice over the next four years before leaving Tynecastle for West Ham United for £10,000 in 1961.

Taken from the Scotsman