TOWNSLEY CAUGHT IN TWO MINDS

GRETNA fall-guy Derek Townsley last night admitted he committed the cardinal sin of changing his mind as he stepped up to hit his penalty in the Scottish Cup Final shoot-out.

The former Hibs defender handed Hearts the initiative at Hampden when Craig Gordon saved his spot kick to keep the Jambos 3-2 up.

Michal Pospisil then netted before Gavin Skelton struck the bar to gift the Tynecastle side their first trophy in eight years.

Townsley (left) was gutted afterwards and revealed how he was originally going to put his kick in the opposite corner.

He said: "When the game goes to penalties there's always going to be a hero and a villain.

"The cup final is the highlight of my career but I'll always look back on that penalty.

"I was going to put it in the other corner and changed my mind - that's sinful in football.

"It was disappointing but I didn't need to be consoled at the end. The boys knew how I felt and didn't have to say anything."

Townsley believes battling Gretna proved the critics wrong with their gutsy display and blasted TV pundits Charlie Nicholas and Ian St John for writing his side off.

Derek said: "Our team talk was easy again. These people have shown a total lack of respect and have ended up looking like idiots.

"We showed that we could compete in the SPL - we were the superior side."

Taken from the Sunday Mail