Cup dream is alive in mad 2020
In a mad 2020, is the Scottish Cup coming back to Gorgie again?
Currently plying their trade in Scotland’s second tier and playing in the cup final of last season’s Scottish cup sounds more like some peculiar drama rather than reality but that’s the world Hearts live in as they gear up for a pop against current holders Celtic in a rematch of the 2019 final at Hampden on Sunday 20 December.
Back in May 2019, Craig Levein’s then side took the lead when Aussie midfielder Ryan Edwards sent the Gorgie masses into raptures early in the second half.
Two goals from Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard however nudged the final for the Bhoys, secured their treble treble and landed Neil Lennon the manager’s job at Parkhead yet again.
At the full-time whistle however, there was an air of defiance amongst the Hearts support after a competitive and battling performance against the country’s top side. There was a spirit of renewal and pride for the next season after a tough campaign which, after starting in the most bright fashion with table topping progress, nose dived to a 6th place finish.
That decline was only a taster of things to come though, with the 2019/2020 season proving an absolute disaster for Hearts, ending in Levein’s sacking and demotion to the Championship after the bungled SPFL response to the pandemic – albeit predicated, ultimately, by Hearts’ lacklustre performance which saw them bottom of the pile when lockdown became a reality.
Robbie Neilson returned to Tynecastle over the summer and immediately stated his top intention was victory over Hibs in the Scottish cup semi final
– a tournament the SFA oddly chose to playout despite all other competitions calling it early. He duly delivered in circumstances that arguably must rank as one of his greatest achievements to date as a young manager.
Celtic are imperious opponents for Hearts. They’ve swept away all before them for nigh on nine seasons. But they’re struggling. There is no invincibility and swagger that existed previously whilst Lennon’s reactionary comments and demeanour are not of a master of all that he surveys.
The lack of crowd is also an intriguing factor. It’s a depressing and demoralising reality of the current government restrictions, however, it has led to a variety of sporting surprises across the globe to date. Celtic, no doubt, are beneficiaries of a vocal and mass following. Are they so used to it that they are now reliant?
In this weird world we now live, could a team from the Championship overthrow the Scottish champions and bring the Scottish cup back to Edinburgh yet again?