Frail says Mikoliunas has learned his lesson as he returns to scene of his 'diving crime' at Hampden

There is little doubt Mikoliunas made a conscious decision to dive and win a penalty when confronted by Darren Fletcher in September. The fall-out has not impacted on him alone. A price has also been paid by Hearts, as evidenced against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday. Mikoliunas appeared to have been clipped by Jeffrey de Visscher in the box, but his appeals for a penalty were ignored by referee Willie Collum. Worse, the player was then booked.

"We knew this would happen after Hampden," said Frail. "I knew it would come back and bite us. There's not a lot you can do about it. He told me straightaway in the dressing room that he hadn't dived. All we can do after incidents like that is make sure he knows we back him.

"We watched the video yesterday and made a little joke about it. The pictures clearly show there was contact. The more I have seen it the more I think it was a penalty."

Frail believes Mikoliunas has been made to unduly suffer but is confident the controversy has not affected the player. Indeed, he is expecting him to excel tonight in the open spaces of Hampden along with fellow winger Andrew Driver, who has been the subject of interest during the current transfer window.

Frail revealed that his fellow team-mates had encouraged Mikoliunas to stay on his feet. His determination to do this was also displayed on Saturday. Despite being clipped on two separate occasions during the course of another powerful run he succeeded in keeping his balance.

Had he tumbled to the ground, something he was within his rights to do, a free-kick in a dangerous area might have been secured. This signalled to Frail that the player has taken on board the views of his team-mates, and, perhaps, had heeded the more sensible critics who avoided the outraged hysteria of some observers in September.

He hasn't let the abuse get him down and he remains a happy-go-lucky character around a club where spirits have been raised by two successive wins against Hibs and Aberdeen.

"It's been a tough time for Miko but he's had to deal with it," said Frail. "It was great to listen to the guys on Scotsport last night and hear John Colquhoun say it should have been a booking for the guy who brought him down. I don't know what happens when Miko is away (from the club], but he's a great character and he's always smiling. He's always ready for a laugh. I think he has taken it all in his stride. I have never really asked him if he's had abuse when he's out in town with his wife. I hope not."

Tonight offers Mikoliunas further opportunity for redemption as Hearts seek to reach a second cup final in two years. The players, Frail said, deserve the credit for the recent upswing in fortunes, with individuals such as Ruben Palazuelos rising to the task. The caretaker manager is not mind
ed to change a winning team. Christian Nade, the powerful striker who scored Hearts' winner on Saturday and made such an impression against Rangers in his second game for the club, is hopeful he will be asked to lead the line again, alongside Andrius Velicka.

Frail has been in dialogue with Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov at least twice a week, and is comfortable in his present role. Romanov is likely to watch the game on television at home in Lithuania.

"He wants to know everything that is going on," Frail said of Romanov. "He's given me his backing. He just likes to know the team and why certain players are playing. But I think owners all over the country do that. He just told me to get on with things." Reaching a cup final just a month after accepting the interim position of manager would represent a powerful statement from Frail, whether the owner is at Hampden tonight or not.

Taken from the Scotsman