Hearts Win The Cup..Just!

Over the years us Jambos have become used to huge disappointments on the big stage, particularly in matches we've been expected to win. However going into yesterday's final, although we did have a touch of caution, the general feeling was that this Hearts team were different and would close the game out with minimal fuss. How wrong were we?!

The atmosphere in and around Hampden was absolutely buzzing with people from hours before the 3pm kick-off. Masses of people hanging around buying flags and scarves, singing and dancing to the beat of the samba band that slowly circled the outside of Hampden. Fans of both clubs mixed freely without a hint of trouble...it was a refreshing change from the normal Hampden experience it must be said!

When the teams eventually ran out at 3pm, not a single seat in the ground was not taken, making a mockery of the 'experts' worry about whether the fixture would sell out or not. That was just another example of their patronising attitude towards non-Old Firm clubs. The match had been sold out for weeks with many genuine fans unable to get a ticket...and the atmosphere was great!

Hearts started the match in typical fashion by swarming all over Gretna, clearly intending to get the early goals needed to kill the game off.

They nearly got the early goal they craved when Davidas Cesnauskas found space on the edge of the box and cracked a shot off the base of the post with Alan Main rooted to the spot. Then after some nice lead-up play, Main made good saves from Jankauskas and Skacel. Would it be one of those days?

Gretna were hardly in the game but on a rare break up the park they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Hearts area. Skelton fired in a dangerous shot that Gordon tipped over in true 'camera-save' style! This served a warning to Hearts that it would not be all their own way.

After more wasted Hearts chances, they eventually took the lead on 39 minutes. A ridiculously long throw from Neilson was flicked on by a defender and Skacel, running in at an angle at the back post, placed a nice shot across Main to make it 1-0. His first goal since January and not bad for a guy who has not broken sweat for us since then!

So that's it then isn't it? If we score first we win the cup, simple as that. No? The chat at half-time was that this final had been something of an anti-climax from the point of view that the result is inevitable, we're up against nothing, etc. No real sense of achievement. I could see where that argument was coming from, but by god did the second half change that view....

Early in the second half, Gretna's Steve Tosh found himself in space with a clear shot at goal from 18 yards, but he dragged his shot just wide of Gordon's post.

Gretna were clearly going for it and for the first time in the game looked dangerous. This was leaving more gaps for Hearts to exploit though and Roman Bednar should have finished the game when clean through on goal, his shot sailing high and wide with Main closing down the angle.

David Graham then went on a great run right through the middle of the Hearts defence......he rounded Gordon and looked certain to score before Robbie Neilson came from nowhere to put in a great challenge to deny him.

Several Jambos around me were now visiting the toilets on a regular basis!

The nerves got even worse when former Hibee John O'Neil was tripped by Cesnauskas in the Hearts box. This allowed current Hibee Dougie McDonald to award Gretna a penalty. No complaints really - looked quite clear even from my poor seat in the west stand.

Gordon saved McGuffie's penalty but only knocked it straight back to the taker, who kept his head to smash home the rebound.

This can't be happening.

The equaliser was thoroughly deserved as Hearts had looked tired and second best for most of the half. However they went straight up the park and from Jankauskas' cutback, Skacel somehow managed not to make contact from six yards out. It definitely looked like one of those days!

Gretna then nearly snatched it when Chris Innes sliced wide from close-in with five minutes left.

Extra time. At this point I was considering which country I wanted to emigrate to! We'll never live this down!

Extra time belonged to Hearts but they just could not score. Skacel's free-kick was deflected just past and then the Czech was clean through but his shot hit the same post Cesnauskas had hit in the first half. The writing really did appear clearly on the wall...and it read something like 'Hearts are f**ked'!!

Main was making saves and claiming crosses all over the place in a truly inspirational performance. With minutes remaining though, he should have been the villain if McDonald had done his job properly. Skacel, clean through again, put the ball round him and ran the other side of him. Main clearly tripped the player but for once he tried to stay on his feet but couldn't reach the ball. As clear a penalty as you'll see all season, but we really shouldn't have been in the position of allowing a ref like Dougie McDonald to influence our fate.

Just to add insult to injury, McDonald then sent off Hartley right at the death for kicking out at Townsley. The Gretna player kicked Hartley first but was not punished at all. That really sums up this little SFA swine and three quarters of the stadium were not short in letting everyone know that.

So...penalty shoot-out: our main taker has been sent off and Alan Main is having the afternoon of his life. Terrific. Big hole in the ground please...is there room for me? Thank you!

It was 3-2 to Hearts in the shootout and we'd survived the horrible experience that was watching Robbie Neilson walking up to take one! Then Craig Gordon was the hero when he saved from Townsley! Bedlam but it wasn't yet finished. Pospisil coolly tucked away his penalty which meant that Skelton had to score. When he hit the bar the feeling of relief was incredible!

So going back to our half-time chat about this being a hollow victory devoid of excitement was now deemed null and void! So near to disaster but unlike the St Mirren and Airdrie experiences of the past, we managed to overcome the banana skin in the end.

Watching Steven Pressley lifting that cup was quite a moment. It may have been a poor Hearts performance but we won the cup and that's what mattered.

A special mention goes to Gretna though for a terrific performance and the Hearts fans paid tribute to them as they did a lap of honour also, which was really good to see. They had several heroes out there, none more so than the charismatic Alan Main, who never seemed to miss a cross all afternoon and made a series of great saves.

Phew!

Star Player
I'd like to pick a Hearts player here but Gretna 'keeper Alan Main takes this by the proverbial country mile. Brilliant.
Player Ratings
Gordon 6
The penalty-saving hero in the end but during the game was never the most convincing either from crosses or with his kicking.
Neilson 6
Got lots of space early on but along with everyone else struggled in second half. One great last-ditch tackle to prevent certain goal though.
Fyssas 5
Tired-looking performance from Takis but to be fair Skacel never helped him at all.
Pressley 6
Stuck to the task manfully but struggled in second half along with whole defence.
Tall 6
Pretty solid most of the time but did have the occasional lapse in concentration.
Aguiar 4
Not in the game much and got completely over-run in second half before being subbed by Brellier.
Skacel 5
Yes he scored, but he hardly tried a leg all afternoon and that was unacceptable. Should have had a penalty in extra-time.
Hartley 5
Quiet game by his standards and frustration in the end led to his red card.
Cesnauskas 5
Had a good first half when he hit the post, but as Gretna took control of second half he faded and was replaced by Mikoliunas.
Bednar 4
Never really got going and should have scored with great chance before being subbed in second half.
Jankauskas 5
Excellent first 15 minutes but after that hardly contributed.
Brellier 7
Why didn't he start? Made huge difference when he came on, winning tackles and generally being the presence we'd missed for the past four games.
Brellier 7
Why didn't he start? Made huge difference when he came on, winning tackles and generally being the presence we'd missed for the past four games.
Mikoliunas 5
Looked quite lively and got into some good positions.
Pospisil 4
Like Miko looked lively but didn't get too much decent service.