Three and easy would be ideal for Nisbet as he chases cup dream
Kevin Nisbet is out to achieve what must be a unique record in Scottish football.
The Hibs striker hopes to score for the third consecutive time at Hampden Park with three different clubs.
He could also become the first player to reach a Scottish Cup Final after already playing in a game where he was knocked out of the competition.
Nisbet was in the Dunfermline side beaten 1-0 by Stranraer in November last year.
The coronavirus crisis saw the semifinals held over until this coming weekend and Nisbet moved from the Pars to Hibs in the summer.
He has been given clearance to take part when the Easter Road men take on Hearts at Hampden on Saturday.
He said: “I’ve played there twice – when I was at East Stirling as a kid and with Raith in the Scottish Cup.
“The first one we drew 1- 1 and the second one was 3- 0. I scored in both as well, so hopefully that continues.
“The facilities there are incredible and, of course, I’ve seen a lot of Scottish Cup finals and a lot of Scotland games.
“So, actually being in the dressing room and running out on to the pitch is a special moment.
“It doesn’t matter the occasion.
“But this one is a massive game and hopefully we can get to the final.”
Nisbet, 23, admits his reprieve in the Scottish Cup is a welcome bonus after making a great start to his Hibs career.
That cup defeat at Stair Park is one he’d rather forget and he certainly doesn’t want to contemplate being knocked out of the same competition twice.
He went on: “When Stranraer put Dunfermline out last season the result came out of the blue.
“I thought we started the season really well and played well in the Betfred Cup.
“That’ s what the Scottish Cup does, it brings a lot of shocks and unfortunately we were on the wrong end of that.
“But when the rule came out that said I could play, I was delighted.
“To go straight into a semi- final and a derby, you can’t really get much better than that.
“It wasn’t great coming off the pitch that day at Stair Park.
“There were a lot of strong words said in the dressing room.
“In those moments of disappointment, you just strive to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“As a player you never want that feeling and hopefully I don’t get it again.
“I don’t really want to think about
losing this one, if I’m honest. It’s a derby and we want to be the ones going out and imposing ourselves on the game.”
Hibernian boss Jack Ross comes up against Hearts boss Robbie Neilson for a second cup clash.
He said: “When we played our opening game, ironic ally against Robbie’ s Dundee United team, we spoke about winning the cup. That was our aim from that game.
“We’ve had to overcome a number of challenges since then to get within one game of the final.
“We’ve worked hard to reach the semifinal. It’s a case of now making sure we win the game, one way or another.”
Ross is glad to have men like David
Gray, Darren Mcgregor, Lewis Stevenson, Martin Boyle and Paul Hanlon in his squad.
They were in the Hibs team that won the Scottish Cup in 2016 and ended a 114year hoodoo.
He said: “They do not carry that millstone around their neck any longer.
“I am fortunate Alan Stubbs was able to do that with that squad, because if he hadn’t then undoubtedly I would be getting asked questions about that and about the quest to end that drought.
“There are a couple who have been on the rollercoaster in terms of derby victories and defeats etc.
“They speak more about the latter than the former, which would not surprise you!”