Inverness marksman Billy McKay: I should have put my chance away, but it wasn't to be

27 Jan 2013 00:01

THE Northern Irish striker admits he is gutted that he couldn't send the Caley Jags to Hampden

IMVERNESS hitman Billy McKay admits he’s haunted by the extra-time miss that blew his chance to be the Highlanders’ hero.

Hearts beat Caley Thistle 5-4 in a penalty shootout to reach the League Cup Final – but only after McKay blundered inches from goal near the end of the match.

With the net at his mercy the striker stood on the ball and tried to take an extra touch instead of simply rolling it in the net.

The tie finished 1-1 and on-loan Arsenal midfielder Philip Roberts missed the 10th penalty of a dramatic shootout.

He blasted high over the bar after nine spot kicks had been converted – and the Caley Jags’ hopes of a historic first major domestic cup final crumbled in the capital.

McKay, who has bagged 20 goals this season, reckons his unbelievable miss will always prey on his mind.

And he admits he’ll need to watch a TV replay to find out where he went wrong.

With only Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas protecting an empty net, he took a touch and squared the ball for Andrew Shinnie instead of going for goal.

That allowed Jambos No.1 Jamie MacDonald to get back into position and make the save.

Distraught Caley Jags star McKay said: “I’ve been going over and over that chance in my mind.

“I’m not sure if I should have hit it first time or controlled it.

“All I know is I should have put the chance away. But it wasn’t to be – and I feel gutted.

“I will have to look back on it and see what I should have done.”

The 24-year-old also went one-on-one with McDonald 14 minutes into the game but the keeper produced a fine one-handed stop.

He said: “Maybe it was a case of having a bit too long to think about it or maybe it was a great save from the keeper.

“I decided I was going to go that way and Jamie got a strong hand to it.

“I have been firing them in all season and had my chances so I am disappointed not to have scored.

“It could have been a different game and maybe we could have gone through to the final.”

McKay revealed the Caley lads felt sorry for spot-kick sinner Roberts, adding: “It could happen to any player in a shootout.
Inverness boss Butcher consoles Roberts after penalty miss
Russell Cheyne/SNS

“We are all up there putting ourselves on the line when we take a penalty.

“There are no grudges and we have to put it to the back of our minds.”

It was only the second defeat in 22 matches in all competitions for Terry Butcher’s men.

McKay revealed he is now determined to make amends by booking a place at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup.

Inverness face a tricky tie against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park next weekend in the last 16 of the competition.

And with Inverness sitting second in the SPL, McKay says there is still a lot to play for. He vowed the players will get the Hearts defeat quickly out of their system and get back to business.

The Northern Irishman said: “Everyone is devastated. We feel we did enough to win the tie.

“We had the chances. But to miss out on penalties is one of the worst ways to lose.

“We are also disappointed to get knocked out just one stage away from the cup final and an outing to Hampden for the players and the supporters.

“We lost a penalty shootout – so realistically we have only lost three games all season. That is still a great record and we want to go further in the Scottish Cup now.

“There is a real determination about the squad to try and get to the Scottish Cup Final and book a Hampden place.

“We were the favourites to beat Hearts and that shows just how far we have come as a team.

“Not many people at the start of the season would have made us favourites for a League Cup semi-final against Hearts and I guess that’s a measure of our success.”

Taken from the Daily Record