PAUL HART TO WATCH PENALTY SHOOTOUT ON HIS OWN

PAUL HARTLEY revealed how he was banned from watching the Cup Final penalty shootout in the technical area after being sent off at the National Stadium.

The Hearts midfielder had been the star of his side's semi-final win over Hibs with a treble in the 4-0 drubbing of their city rivals.

But on Saturday the hero turned villain in extra-time after picking up a second booking for a petulant kick at Gretna's Derek Townsley.

Hartley admits he was still seething at referee Dougie McDonald for his refusal to award a spot-kick after 85 minutes when Rudi Skacel went down under a challenge from Alan Main.

It looked clear cut but McDonald controversially waved play on and Hartley saw the Scottish Cup slipping away along with his chance to be the Jambos' trophy-winning hero.

The playmaker revealed he would have been his side's first penalty taker in the nerve-wracking shootout which Hearts won 4-2 after a 1-1 draw with the Second Division team.

Hartley said:"I came in and watched the Rudi Skacel and Alan Main incident when I was sent off and it is a stonewall penalty.

"Skacel is clean through on goal so why does he want to dive? For him to not get a penalty is what eventually brought the red mist down.

"I got a yellow card straight after it for dissent after complaining.

"I cannot believe the referee has not given the award.I was going to take the kick and be the Cup-winning hero.

"Gretna had a lot more of the chances in the second half and Hearts were at the desperate stage.

"I tried to go out into the dug-out and watch the penalties with the rest of the team but I was not allowed.

"There was no way anyone would have stopped me joining in the celebrations though.

"Obviously I got a red card but that does not matter anymore as Hearts won the Scottish Cup.

"Gretna were fantastic and I think we were lucky but the trophy is going back to Tynecastle and that's all that matters.

"I have waited for this since I was a wee boy.

"To experience it is just a fantastic feeling."

Taken from the Daily Record