It's 24 years on but I'm still feeling CROSS

Hearts were 1-0 up against Celtic and minutes away from reaching the 1988 Scottish Cup Final.

The Parkhead side were having a real off-day in front of goal as Smith went untroubled.

But two Celts strikes in the last three minutes left the Jambos shattered.

And 24 years on, Smith still kicks himself over the blunder which handed Billy McNeill's team a lifeline.

Tommy Burns floated in a teasing corner, Smith made the rash decision to come out, dropped the ball and Mark McGhee slammed it into the net through a ruck of players.

Then in the dying seconds McGhee used his brute strength to barge into Smith to knock the ball down for Andy Walker to slam home the winner.

Legendary Jambos goalie Smith admits he should never have come for the cross.

Ahead of tomorrow's Hampden last-four clash between the sides, he said: "I was taking cross ball after cross ball. I was under no pressure whatsoever but as usual when you are flying, you come for one too many.

"For the first goal, I should have stayed on my line because Sandy Clark had it under control.

"But I came over the top of him and Roy Aitken was underneath me when I got my hands on the ball.

"As I started taking the ball back into my body as I was coming down, it came off Sandy's head, out my hands and dropped to Roy's feet. He touched it to Mark McGhee and for the life of me, I don't know how he scored because there were so many Hearts players between him and the goal.

"I came for crosses all day and I wonder why I came for that one as it proved costly.

"And of course Celtic had a never-say- die attitude and kept on going."

As the Gorgie side tried to recover from the equaliser, the Hoops fired themselves into the final right at the death.

Frank McAvennie sent a looping ball to the back post, McGhee beat Smith to it and knocked down for Walker to score from point-blank range.

Smith insists to this day that the goal should never have stood, claiming second-half sub McGhee fouled him.

Smith said: "Mark barged into me. It should have been a foul and I have always said that. The ball was played to the back post, I was backpedaling but Mark had a standing jump and had two hands on both my shoulders.

"He knocked the ball down for Andy to put it in. But there is no doubt it should have been a free-kick.

"We were so much under control that day and cruising along. I actually hardly had a save to make."

It was heartache for the Tynecastle club — and Smith had to endure a lot of that with them.

He lost the 1986 final 3-0 to Aberdeen and came out second best in three semi-finals in total. His first semi defeat was in 1987 when they lost 2-1 to St Mirren. The following year came that loss to Celtic and in 1992 they crashed 4-2 on penalties to Airdrieonians after a replay finished 1-1.

Smith admits it was that '87 loss to Saints which hurt the most, after knocking out Celtic in the fourth round.

Smith said: "Whenever you beat the Old Firm, you think you have a good chance of getting to the final.

"We beat Motherwell after a replay in the next round.

"When we played St Mirren in the semis, we were thinking what a chance we had.

"They had a few shots but they never hit the target until the goals.

"It was a bit hard on us because we were thinking it was going to be our day. But it went against us.

"We've had had several chances over the years against Airdrie, St Mirren and against Celtic.

"But while on paper we felt we should have won some of those games, it is always about how you play on the day.

"We had opportunities to win that one against St Mirren.

"If you don't turn up in a semi-final then you will get done.

"We just never took our chances against St Mirren, Frank McGarvey took his and it proved costly."

That 1987 game was the last time Hearts beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup, with John Robertson scoring the only goal at a packed Tynecastle.

Smith said: "That game started about 3.15pm because of the huge crowd. The draw had been made while we were still playing the game.

"Wee Robbo scored the only goal with a free-kick which took a deflection past Packie Bonner which beat him at his near post. It was a tremendous crowd that day and there was a full house at Tynecastle.

"I remember after the game, I was clenching my fist and punching the air.

"I used to to do that in those days although I got pulled up by cops a couple of times for doing it, although not in that particular match.

"I just got embroiled in the atmosphere which was absolutely superb and emotions were running high.

"It was a superb occasion and we played well that day.

"I don't think I had many saves to make while the defence played well.

"Wee Robbo got his chance and took it as usual."

Do Hearts have a prayer against Celtic at Hampden tomorrow? Smith believes they do and insists they can take inspiration from Kilmarnock's League Cup Final victory over the Hoops.

Smith said: "The way Celtic are going just now, they could steamroll anyone.

"But when you look at the League Cup Final, Kilmarnock turned up on the day.

"If you don't turn up and Celtic are firing on all cylinders, you'll get a doing.

"On paper, Celtic have the better team but if they are still celebrating from winning the title and if the Hearts players turn up, then they have got a chance."