Gary Naysmith: Some Hearts fans didn't want Scottish Cup Final spot in case they lost to Hibs.. but that won't happen

Apr 19 2012 Exclusive by Craig Swan

GARY NAYSMITH insists the Jambos will soon own the ultimate bragging rights over their city rivals when they ram home their superiority by extending Hibs' Scottish Cup hoodoo in next month's final.

But the former Tynecastle star admits some of his Hearts-mad pals didn't want to see their club win their semi-final as they couldn't face the prospect of Hibs coming out on top in the most important derby match in history.

The Scotland international may be 300 miles down the road at Huddersfield
but the football fever that has swept Edinburgh since last weekend has not passed him by.

It's 1896 since the city's rival clubs last squared up in the showpiece final and the capital is now counting down the days until May 19.

However, Naysmith revealed some of his Jambo buddies headed to Hampden for the game against Celtic last Sunday with mixed emotions.

The 33-year-old said: "All I know is it's brilliant that it's Hearts v Hibs and what a feeling for one set of fans to win it.

"It would be much better than beating Celtic or Rangers to lift it.

"I always wanted Hearts to beat Celtic in the semi but there are plenty of fans I know who didn't want to win after Hibs saw off Aberdeen the day before.

"At the moment, Hearts have two bragging rights.

"Hearts fans say 22 derby games in a row but the Hibees come back with the 7-0 win.

"But the final and best one for the Hearts boys is the 110 years that Hibs have been without the Scottish Cup.

"However, if Hibs end that jinx at Hampden next month by beating Hearts in the final, that can't be beaten.

"That's how big it is to some Hearts fans and a lot of the boys wanted that possibility avoided. Not me, though.

"Although folk say form goes out the window in derbies, Hearts have clearly had the upper hand in recent meetings and must be strong favourites.

"Hearts have the edge and it's going to be some day."

Naysmith may have left Tynecastle 12 years ago for a big move to Everton but his heart remains in Gorgie along with several of his friends.

He said: "Myself and Andy Webster played for Scotland together and Ian Black's dad was my trainer at Tynecastle Boys Club. I remember wee Ian coming along to training to watch.

"Of course, I'm still good pals with Gary Locke and I know Craig Beattie from before at Sheffield United. When he came down to join us, our partners became close due to the Scottish connection."

Naysmith was not surprised when Beattie stepped forward to plant home the penalty kick in stoppage time to book the date with Hibs. He added: "It took some bottle to take that penalty.

"To score must have been amazing and it brought about an incredible coincidence for me.

"I nipped into the supermarket on Sunday night after watching the semi-final and got a tap on the shoulder.

"I looked around to see Willie McStay. I asked what he was doing here and he said that he'd come down to work with Didi Hamann at Stockport. Although Didi had lost his job, Willie had stayed on to work with Jim Gannon and was renting a flat.

"We got talking and were laughing about Beatts' goal celebration.

"Willie told me that when Craig was released by Rangers as a kid, he had recommended to Martin O'Neill that he take him for Celtic. He saw him progress into the first team before moving to West Brom for £1.25million.

"When he was taking that penalty, Willie said it was strange as he didn't know what he wanted. He's been a Celtic fan all his days and didn't want his team to lose yet there was a part of him which had the pride of discovering Craig."

Naysmith is now desperate to head to Hampden but with Huddersfield in the play-off mix in League One he may be involved in the build-up to a final of his own at Wembley on May 26.

He said: "Unless the club has a reason for me not to be there, I'll be at Hampden supporting the boys. If I can't go, I'll be glued to a TV because it could work out a perfect ending to the season for me.

"If Huddersfield make the Play-off Final and get promotion to the Championship the week after Hearts take the Scottish Cup by beating Hibs, it would be some double and some summer."

Taken from the Daily Record