GORDON: I CLIPPED GRAHAM

CRAIG GORDON last night admitted he fouled Gretna midfielder David Graham just as he was about to roll the ball into the empty Hampden net.

The 23-year-old keeper revealed he gave Graham a "tap on the ankle"to allow team-mate Robbie Neilson to get back and make a last-ditch tackle.

Gordon said: "Graham went on his mazy run and I came out to narrow the angle. He skipped by me and I tapped him on the ankle on the way past.

"That slowed him down and allowed Robbie time to get back in and put a great saving tackle in on him.

"David did not go down and he tried to stay on his feet but we lost a goal not long after that."

Gordon reckons Hearts would have seen off Gretna in 90 minutes had they not produced one of their worst displays of the campaign.

He said: "We couldn't kill Gretna off and it was one of our poorest performances of the season.

"We still had chances to win but the effects of a long, hard season took their toll.

"Hampden is a massive pitch and you would have thought that Gretna would have run out of legs but it was actually the other way about.We put a lot of effort into claiming that Champions League spot and we stumbled over the line.

"But there is a great team spirit and that is why we held our own during the penalties.We were able to take four excellent kicks and had the mental strength to step up to the plate when it mattered.

"We had nothing to show for second in the SPL apart from the Champions League and something to look forward to next season."

Gordon is confident the club can make an impact on their debut in Europe's top competition.

He added: "It will be difficult to qualify for the group stages but there is no reason we can't, especially if Mr Romanov brings in a few more players."

Taken from the Daily Record