'Euphoria, ecstasy, disbelief' - Why Hearts' last victory over Celtic at Hampden lives long in the memory

Hearts players and fans celebrate against Celtic. Picture: SNS

With Hibs having already dispatched an Aberdeen side which at that point had an aversion to winning big cup games, a shock result was required to set up an all-Edinburgh final, the first since 1896 when a reported 17,000 turned up at New Logie Green in Powderhall to see the Jam Tarts take the trophy back to Gorgie.

The Hearts fans who made their way from the Capital to Mount Florida for the 12.45pm kick-off knew two things: 1) Their team were rank outsiders; 2) If they won they would have more than a month to prepare for the biggest Edinburgh derby in the fixture’s 135-year history.

It was the certainty of the former which was reflected in the crowd with just 12,000 supporters backing their team at Hampden.

As for the latter, for some, it was unbearable. The wait, the fear of the worst, thinking about the first ticket out of Scotland to somewhere without the internet, without phone lines, without Hibs fans. For others, the thought was tantalising, exciting, the reason you are a football supporter.

But between Hearts and Hibs stood the small matter of Neil Lennon’s Celtic, featuring Fraser Forster, Kelvin Wilson, Kris Commons, Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama. They were 33 points better off in the league than Paulo Sergio’s side by the time of kick-off.

2-28

With that in mind, there would have been supporters making a few concessions for a win, just as they would in the final.

Looking back on that day now, what transpired across 90 minutes and what followed in May, two wins over Celtic in the more than 3,100 days between that semi-final and Sunday's showdown may well have been accepted by all at Hampden Park for those two games.

Since Euan Norris blew the full-time whistle on April 15, 2012, the sides have met 32 times. Hearts’ record stands at two wins, two draws and 28 losses. The aggregate score? 92-20.

Four 5-0s, four goals conceded five times and even a 7-0. There have been a few trying afternoons following Hearts against Celtic in recent times. Each one could prompt fans to ask if it was all worth it. Alternatively, each disappointment makes that success all the more special. The pre-match pessimism, the manner of the victory, the anger of Lennon at full-time and the jubilant scenes which met both goals. It is a game which will live long in the memory.

Supporters that day were housed in the corner where the West Stand meets the South Stand. And few had any idea just how good a chance their team had within the opening seconds. Scott Robinson pressed Charlie Mulgrew, blocking the clearance, before scampering after Wilson like a dog noticing its owner pouring food into its bowl. The Celtic centre-back under hit his backpass allowing Stephen Elliott to latch on to the ball but was denied by Forster.

Pivotal moment

Yet, the match settled into that familiar routine. Celtic with plenty of territory as fatalism seeps through the crowd and into the bloodstream. It seemed only a matter of time before the Parkhead side would take the lead, their best chance falling to Ki Sung-yueng who only needed to direct his header from a Georgios Samaras cross inside the posts instead of against one.

Half-time proved to be a pivotal moment. Robinson was replaced by Craig Beattie who had already endeared himself to the Hearts support with a derby goal the month previous.

His impact was instant which saw the best qualities of the team's stars come to the fore. Elliott's selfless work and link play, a short, sharp Ian Black pass and then, via Beattie’s deflected through ball, Skacel's potent finishing, rounding Forster and firing the ball into the roof of the net.

Cue scenes amongst the Hearts support.

There is something special about a goal as underdogs, even more so in a mammoth encounter. It makes fans scream louder, run faster, jump higher. The wide stairs at Hampden Park perfect for the rush of supporters.

The all-Edinburgh final was on but the pessimism of a football fan persisted. There were still more than 40 minutes on the clock. Forty long minutes to survive.

Yet, it was Hearts who looked like adding to the goal, Skacel and Beattie both going close with long-range efforts.

The unexpected

Then came the heart in the mouth moments. Ki headed against the post when it looked like he would score again. Mulgrew saw his header clawed away by a desperate MacDonald hand before a goalmouth scramble.

A goal was coming or maybe it was a sign it wasn’t, depending on your frame of mind.

The goal arrived.

Hooper, in an offside position, heading past MacDonald with three minutes left on the clock. Deflation, dejection, that was it from a Hearts perspective. Against the Old Firm you don't come back from such a blow. And against the Old Firm you don't get stoppage time penalties.

But concessions made, that's exactly what happened.

Everyone knows what occurred in the moments which followed Norris' decision to point to the spot with Beattie and his celebration. Yet, in the stands it was pandemonium. Those moments where it appears a higher power has control of your person. How did I get 15 rows down? Who is this stranger I am embracing? Why am I lying on my back wedged between seats?

Heart racing, blood pressure at an unhealthy level, emotions scattered around the West Stand of Hampden Park, a Celtic chance and penalty shout to survive.

Survive Hearts did. The full-time whistle is greeted by euphoria, ecstasy, disbelief.

Then one fan mentions to another: ‘Bring on the Hibs’.

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