End Jambos jinx and semi looks Good...

BERT MITCHELL

21 Mar 2012

JIM GOODWIN is on a mission to end St Mirren’s Hearts hoodoo – and land a glamour Hampden showdown against Celtic.

The Buddies skipper has labelled tonight’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final replay with the Tynecastle club as Saints biggest game of the season.

But he knows the Paisley side will have to put the Jambos to the sword for the first time on manager Danny Lennon’s watch to book a last-four passage.

Goodwin said: “To make it through to Hampden and face Celtic in a semi-final would be absolutely massive for the club and everyone connected to St Mirren.

“It would provide the fans with a great day out and would be a great way to repay their loyalty.

“But we are under no illusion as to how tough it will be. Hearts will be coming here boosted by their win over Hibs and full of belief they can make the semi-finals.

“But we took a lot of positives from the way we came back at them in the first tie and it is vital we make home advantage count.”

Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by St Johnstone ended Saints’ hopes of claiming a top-six SPL berth for the first time.

But with a Hampden semi-final awaiting tonight’s winner, Goodwin vowed his side will blank their SPL misery.

Crucial to their goal will be the need to nullifying Hearts’ threat from the set-piece – and Goodwin has already singled out Craig Beattle as Hearts’ main weapon.

He said: “Craig has been on fire since he joined Hearts and he took his goal really well in the derby with Hibs and also the one he got against us in the first tie.

“So we know where the danger will come from. One thing we must not do is give away needless free-kicks around our area.

“But I still maintain that the more possession we win and retain, the more we can impose our game on Hearts and frustrate them.

“I thought Ian Black was superb for Hearts in the Edinburgh derby at the weekend and he is the man we have to get to and isolate in the midfield.”

Like most of his team-mates, Goodwin has yet to savour a showpiece Hampden game.

But he’s determined to lead the Buddies into a last-four battle to leave them 90 minutes away from a shot at silverware.

He added: “We have played a lot of good football this season, but maybe not had the rewards we deserve from it.

“A semi-final would make up for that. It is going to take a real team effort, though. Hopefully the home support can be our 12th man tonight.”

Striker Steven Thompson has overcome a thigh strain and will lead the line for the Buddies tonight.