Scott Robinson is prepared to make sacrifice for Hearts

By BARRY ANDERSON
Published on Friday 13 April 2012 12:11

HEARTS midfielder Scott Robinson is willing to take one for the team this Sunday by getting booked and missing the Scottish Cup final if such an offence helps his club defeat Celtic.

Robinson is one of nine Tynecastle players who will be suspended for the final if cautioned in this weekend's semi-final. However, the youngster said he would be prepared to take a yellow card if necessary to prevent the opposition scoring and denying his team a final place.

"If Celtic were away on a counter-attack in the last minute and I had to try and make a foul, I would do it for the team. If that meant getting to the final, then I'd do it," he told the Evening News. "Generally, though, I'll need to watch what I'm doing because I was booked against Auchinleck Talbot (in the fourth round). I won't be making any dodgy tackles."

Robinson, Rudi Skacel, Andy Driver, Darren Barr, Danny Grainger, Marius Zaliukas, Suso Santana, David Templeton and Jordan Morton have all been booked during Hearts' Scottish Cup campaign. Under new SFA disciplinary rules, two cautions in the competition brings an automatic one-match suspension.

"It will affect my approach to the game," continued Robinson. "Obviously, I won't be any less aggressive but I won't be making a late sliding tackle or anything like that. I'll be on my guard."

Robinson is determined not to allow tension to cloud his judgment.

"At the time you might forget about it," he said. "I remember Roy Keane and Paul Scholes missing the Champions League final for Manchester United in 1999 because they were booked in the semi-final. You can forget but I'll be doing my best to remember I'm a booking away from missing the final."

Taken from the Scotsman