THAT’S RUB OF GREEN FOR ‘16
CRAIG LEVEIN believes Robbie Neilson exacted revenge for a defeat suffered four-and-a-half years earlier when booking Hearts a Scottish Cup Final date.
Neilson guided the Championship side to a dramatic extra-time upset over city rivals Hibs at Hampden to tee up tomorrow’s clash with Celtic.
That 2-1 victory was meticulously planned from the day the new boss brought players back for pre-season early to prepare for a delayed October kick-off to the campaign.
Being demoted from the top flight by a controversial vote proved a powerful inspiration to defeat a team flying high in the Premiership.
Levein suspects Neilson was further motivated by an attempt to atone for losing an Edinburgh derby replay in 2016 – a result that helped Hibs on the way to their historic trophy success.
Levein said: “Robbie had the semifinal on the radar for a long time. I think that was one of the reasons they started back training so early.
“Then being ordered to stop by the SPFL was another thing he used to stoke the players up.
“Not only that, in his second season managing Hearts for the first time he lost a replay 1-0 at Easter Road in an early round of the Scottish Cup in 2016.
“Hearts had been 2-0 up at half-time at Tynecastle in the first game but there were three players injured and, with all the changes, Hibs got back to 2-2 in the last 10 minutes to force a replay.
“As much as he had a fantastic spell at Hearts, that result would really have annoyed him.
‘I’m sure he got huge pleasure putting Hibs out while they were going great guns in the Premiership and Hearts had only played two games in the Championship.”
SO far the best thing about this season for Celtic has been last season. And that should culminate with a fourth successive domestic clean sweep tomorrow. Manager Neil Lennon has difficult choices to make but increased competition for places will help the Hoops gaffer to get this part of the job done.
Hearts will make a fight of it but Celtic should have enough in the tank to prevail.
CELTIC have steadied the ship in the last couple of games and should have too much firepower on the day – although if Craig Gordon in goal has one of his great days then Hearts have a real chance. It’s by no mean a certainty and it may become tight but I can just see Lennon’s men edging it.
I WOULD expect Celtic to seal the quadruple Treble. Hearts will make it tough but the Hoops have a bit of confidence back and after a tough few weeks, the players will be determined to deliver for the supporters, Lennon and themselves. I would expect David Turnbull to play a big part if given the nod.
THE Jambos have enough about them to make it a nervy afternoon for Celtic who will already be under immense pressure to win this one on the back of, to put it very mildly, a disappointing campaign so far this term. It will be tight on the day and there will certainly be uncomfortable spells in the game but Lennon’s men will edge it and lift the trophy.
CELTIC 2 HEARTS 1
HEARTS are a formidable-looking side on paper and last Saturday’s 6-1 trouncing of QoS is a reminder of the quality they possess in forward areas. But Celtic are showing signs of life and dominated Kilmarnock last Sunday. Their extra quality will see them edge this one by the same scoreline as the last final. It will be close though and should be a cracker.
THE law of averages dictates that Celtic will lose a cup final eventually and Hearts could be well placed to end their relentless run over the last four years.
The Jambos went very close in 2019, are a team that’s become used to winning again and the stars might just align for them to do it for Marius Zaliukas.
CELTIC 1 HEARTS 2