PAUL: I THOUGHT MY RED MEANT WE WERE DEAD

RELIEVED Paul Hartley feared he'd cost Hearts the Scottish Cup when his moment of madness brought a red card against Gretna.

The Scotland midfielder lost his cool in extra time and was sent off for a nasty swipe at Derek Townsley.

Hartley had to endure watching a tense penalty shoot-out from the Hampden tunnel and admits he was a bag of nerves looking at the drama on TV.

Paul knows Jambos were lucky to win the trophy after Ryan McGuffie's penalty had cancelled Rudi Skacel's opener.

But he's adamant no-one will look back at the history books and remember Gretna's plucky performance. All that matters to Hartley was getting his hands on the cup.

He said: "My frustration just boiled over at the end because it was that kind of afternoon for us.

"It was a rush of blood. I kicked out at Townsley and got a second booking.

"The first was for dissent after the referee knocked back our penalty claim when Rudi was brought down.

"I've looked at it again on telly and it's a stonewall.

"I feared my sending off had lost us the cup. I thought nothing was going our way.

"Sitting inside watching the shoot-out was a nightmare. I was a bag of nerves throughout.

"But who cares? We've won the cup - that's all that matters.

"We know we didn't play to our best and great credit to Gretna who were outstanding.

"I made a point of going into their dressing-room afterwards and telling them how well they'd done.

"But when people look back in years to come they won't be talking about Gretna playing well - it will be about Hearts winning the cup."

Hartley is the Tynecastle club's first-choice penalty taker and his dismissal forced a reshuffle.

Skipper Steven Pressley hit the first and right-back Robbie Neilson came in to take a pressure kick.

But Hartley admits he was worried when he saw Neilson step forward!

He said: "I had no fear about Elvis being first. He hit the penalties before I joined and slotted it home. But when Robbie stepped up I began to worry. No disrespect to him but I didn't think he had it in him.

"It shows Robbie's character - his penalty was one of the best of the lot. I was amazed. I didn't think he could kick the ball so far!

"Now I'm looking forward to a great night out and a few beers to celebrate."

The proudest man in Hampden was captain marvel Pressley who wouldn't let the trophy out of his sight.

He has been a tower of strength during a turbulent season and has emerged with the Scottish Cup and Champions League football.

Like Hartley though Elvis feared they had thrown it away at the death.

He said: "I didn't think we would lose until Chris Innes pulled his left foot back in the 89th minute for a shot.

"We were tired and couldn't move up the gears. It wasn't a typical Hearts performance.

"It's been a long, difficult season and that showed. We couldn't get going and great credit to Gretna for that.

"But you won't find a prouder man than me. It's a special feeling to lift the cup and I've waited so long for this."

Pressley feels the club can achieve even more if they appoint Lithuanian Valdas Ivanauskas as the full-time boss at Tynecastle.

Elvis said: "We can achieve even more if we get stability. We all hope Valdas will be the boss because he's so well respected by the players."

Taken from the Sunday Mail