HAMPDEN GLORY IS WALKER’S GOAL
JA MI E WALKER admits he has timed his return to form perfectly after his double at Cappielow returned Hearts to the top of the Championship just two weeks ahead of the Scottish Cup final with Celtic.
A week ago he was the villain, having squandered chances and conceded the penalty that saw Alloa dump Robbie Neilson’s side out of the Betfred Cup.
His renaissance was swift on Saturday, however, producing a performance of class and quality alongside Steven Naismith that Morton couldn’t contain.
‘Last week at Alloa was very disappointing,’ admitted Walker, ‘my performance personally and the team performance.
‘I always pride myself on my goalscoring but I hadn’t scored since we beat Inverness in the first Betfred game at the start of October when I got the penalty, so I’m delighted to get two and an important three points at a hard place to come.’
Walker admitted his first effort in 37 minutes was a bit of a fluke after being denied by goalkeeper Aidan McAdams.
But his second four minutes into the second half was top class, Andy Irving picking him out with a terrific pass and he eased past Rabin Omar to fire home.
‘My first one, I kind of just hit it into the ground,’ he said. ‘It was a mishit but it’s gone in.
‘It’s brilliant having Andy in the team. He always tries to get on the ball.
‘He’ll never hide, he’ll always look for a pass. His quality is very good, and it was a great pass for the second goal.’
Now Hampden is looming and Walker hopes he can make up for the heartache of l osing the League Cup f i nal there to St Mirren in 2013.
‘That’s my only real regret in football, losing that game. I was young, I thought I’d get there again quickly but it’s been seven years. So this is a big game.
‘But first we’ve got another one next week against Queen of the South. The most important one is always the next league game and then we’ll take care of the final after that.’
Morton keeper McAdams, who was superb on Saturday despite being on the wrong end of the result, reckons opposite number Craig Gordon will be a man on a mission at Hampden against his former side. After working with him for a year when he was on Celtic’s books, the Cappielow No 1 said: ‘I have a feeling he’ll do really well in the final. He’ll be looking to prove a few people wrong. He’s a top- class goalie and I wish him all the best.
‘I worked with Craig for a year at Lennoxtown and he was great for me. I learned a lot.
‘It was good to come up against him — an international- class goalkeeper — and speak to him after the game.’
McAdams, who also had two seasons at Rangers, had an outstanding match with three top saves — but he’d have swapped them for points.
The 21-year- old said: ‘From a personal point of view, it was a good performance but, overall, it’s a disappointing day because we didn’t get anything out of the game.
‘We’ll just need to bounce back next week at Dunfermline – another good side.’