Scottish League Cup Semi-Final - Heart of Midlothian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Sportscene

A goes! It was the best of times. Philip Roberts has discord to keep

Inverness in this semifinal. It comes... Over the bar! It was the

worst of times. It was the season of light. It was the season of

darkness. It was the spring of hope. It was the winter of despair. We had

everything before us. We had nothing before us. It was a tale of two

cities. It was a tale of two destinies. This is a new chapter,

but we are echoing footsteps. Well, a lot has happened to these

two teams in the last 12 months as the pair of them squarer again in

the League Cup semifinals. Same teams, same venue as a year ago, and

a big prize at stake. The final is six weeks away. Hearts and Inverness

looking to take a significant step towards landing this League Cup, the

second of these semifinals is live on the BBC in the company of the

former Hearts captain and manager. Shortly, we will look at highlights

of the first of the semifinals yesterday, Aberdeen against Saint

Johnstone. But before that, the all-important team selections,

brought to us by Leon McLeod. Good afternoon, a very nice day for a

football match, 12 months on from when these two clashed in last

season's semifinal stage. They will have revenge on their minds.

Inverness are favourites again. Hearts have had a couple of decent

results in the last couple of weeks. I think it was a dilemma whether to

go in with the same team or to change it, without confidence.

Inverness, it has been up and down since John Hughes is taken over. As

you can see, no Ryan Stevenson on team. At least he is available on

the bench. It is a nice dilemma for Gary Locke to have. Hearts haven't

been able to do that this season. This all hoped to have their skipper

back. He's not even made the bench. Yes, they certainly have a team

strong enough out there to do the business, especially with that

midfield. Last season's semifinal between the teams had just about

everything. I think there were nine bookings all told. A couple of

goals, the post was hit. Aberdeen are sitting at home with their feet

up to wait and see who they will face in the next final. It is

Sunshine on Leith this -- this Sunday and there is some deja vu

about these two being thrown together again. I suppose it is a

painful recollection for you to look back. Yes, when the draw came out of

the hat we got a bit of a shock will stop --. We had a great opportunity

that day and I think up north they booked their tickets for the final

that day. Today is a slightly different game. I think we going to

did a's game as they breadth and if we play well we should win. Terrific

to win on penalties and get to a cup final, but you don't really remember

the semifinals when you go on to lose the final. Of course it was

disappointed for Hearts to go to the final and lose but it would be even

more disappointing to not get to the final at all. Obviously we're seeing

the goals here, a fantastic goal map. This one here, I think it was

just a wee bit too hard. That is certainly what Billy McKay would be

saying. A fantastic day for Hearts, but ultimately when you get to the

final and you don't win it, it is a huge disappointment. Now, what about

those team selections. It immediately raises your eyebrows.

Ryan Stevenson is on the bench. Yes, it is a massive call, but ultimately

it is the manager's decision. I'm sure Ryan will be very disappointed,

but if called upon he will be looking to make an impact.

Personally, I would be looking to utilise your strongest players. This

highlights exactly why he is one of the strongest players on the team. A

fantastic strike. He was just in front of us that day. Apart from

that, Hearts offered very little. But Ryan Stevenson popped up with a

fantastic goal like that. I'm sure he will be very disappointed he is

not in the starting line-up. The line-up against Saint Mirren was

basically to get him ready to play today. The other team must be

pleasantly surprised to see he is not there. There was talk of the

Thistle captain being ready to start after a break. He's not played much

at all, is a fitness wise, he's missed a lot of training. He was

back full-time last week for the first time. I'm a little bit

surprised he's not on the bench because he an influence in the

changing room. But I'm even more surprised Ryan Stevenson is not

playing. It caused a bit of a Ferrari up north when the game was

shuffled so that he wasn't playing. -- a furore. Another reason why I

would've played Ryan Stevenson is to give a bit more physical stature the

line-up. Danny Williams played two weeks ago and he is a good player,

so I feel sorry for him. The Premiership table has a different

look about it in recent weeks the both these teams. Thistle is now

struggling to hold on both these teams. Thistle is now

struggling to to the coat-tails. And Hearts are finally in the plus

points. Looking at the results for Inverness since John Williams has

taken over, obviously when you look at these usual to put them alongside

results prior to that, said two wins in nine games does not sound that

hot. No, and John is well aware of that. It is a bold thing to look at

to be honest. He's come in and he's tried to change the way we play

slightly at the club, which is not easy. John has come in and wanted to

tamper with things slightly. easy. John has come in and wanted to

tamper with I admire the way he wants to play football. He wants

people to know what they're doing and play a short passing game. This

is one of only two wins so far, and Inverness have won both games

against Hearts this season. Again, because Billy Mackay really. He is

the important player. He is vital. The fact we didn't lose him in the

transfer window is a big plus. You surprised there wasn't anybody

coming in? I am. I would think half ?1 million for Billy Mackay would be

a sensible side by Championship side. Do you think John Hughes is

under pressure today, at this early in his tenure? There is a lot of

pressure. He will be given time, but there is pressure. We've missed the

opportunity to go to a final three times, so it is the next obvious

step for the club, which in itself gives pressure. Hearts are in a good

place at the moment relative to where they burn. There was a

comeback against Saint Johnstone to get a draw and now back-to-back

wins. Obviously the first time this season where they had back-to-back

wins. We see a David Smith, someone who's really come up in a game in

the last few weeks. A lot of the youngsters look as if there's been a

weight taken about their shoulders. This was a slightly fortuitous

penalty. But Hearts could easily have been on the wrong end of a lot

of those bad refereeing decisions, particularly penalties throughout

the season. It's a bit of confidence, probably the best run

they've had all season so far. They will be going out with confidence

due to those results. We will talk more about this game prior to

kick-off, but let's go back 24 hours and see what happened in the first

of the League Cup semifinals, Aberdeen against Saint Johnstone.

Aberdeen have never lost to today's opponents in 24 previous meetings,

ten of those in a League Cup. It is not all good for the Dons though.

They've lost the last five semifinals. Two changes have been

made to the starting side. It means a debut from Logan. Steve Banks

continues in goal for Saint Johnstone. Brian Easton comes in as

lap back. -- left back. They will decide between themselves

who is best to deliver. Kicked clear. Robson with a crossing

opportunity. Steve Banks gets an important love to it. -- glove to

it. A dangerous ball into the near post here from Robson. Banks kept it

out. Adam Rooney is the best figure and has plenty of support. And

Aberdeen are in front at! And it is Jonny Hay 's! Tab Basil is rocking

to the sound of Aberdeenshire 's. -- of Aberdeen cheers. Will this be

their year to finally get back to a cup final? Adam did tremendously

well. The ball was led by Anderson and Mackay. No chance for Steve

Banks. A goalkick given now. That will be

worth another look. No touching the ball that. That quite easily could

have been given as a penalty kick. A brilliant save. What a chance that

was and what a save by the Aberdeen keeper. A stroke of luck there and

Jamie Lang Field earns his luck by touching now want to the post. He

must've he'd scored. -- thought he'd scored.

And he's got another one! Aberdeen doubled the lead. A brilliantly

taken goal. It was a swift counterattack. A brilliant finish

under the body. They are two goals up. Are they on their way to the

League Cup final? That is a corner to St Johnstone,

right in front of their own fans. St Johnstone cannot turn a tin. It

was Gary MacDonald. Eventually Frazer Wright's effort came off the

crossbar. It was helped behind by Reynolds.

That was Peter Pawlett, looking for his second goal. The goalkeeper goes

down. Did he catch Adam Rooney? I think it is offside, rather than the

penalty that Aberdeen wanted. It is a good effort from Peter Pawlett.

The goalkeeper could not hold it. Adam Rooney was running from another

site position. It is 3-0 for Aberdeen. Aberdeen are

surely into the final of the League Cup. Devastating counterattacking

football by Aberdeen. St Johnstone, cot on the back foot. From nothing,

Aberdeen moved 3-0 up. Adam Rooney has to make goals into Mac games. --

Adam Rooney has two goals in two games. There is the face of the man

who knows that his side are beaten. Aberdeen have a chance to add a

fourth goal. Considering rattles the woodwork. -- Considine rattles. He

was very unfortunate to see that strike the crossbar, with the

goalkeeper rooted to the spot. That is wonderful from Jonny Hayes.

It is turning into a rout for Aberdeen. Their fans are utterly

jubilant. The players know that they booked their place in the League Cup

final long time ago. Jonny Hayes has a second goal of the match. It is

the fourth goal for Aberdeen and despair for St Johnstone. Delight

for those in red. The referee brings the League Cup

semifinal to a close. It has been a glorious day for Aberdeen. Jonny

Hayes got them off and running. Derek McInnes has gated them back to

a cup final after five semifinal defeats. -- has guided. It was

formidable staff from Aberdeen. Now we must wait to see who the

opponents will be. Will it be Hearts of Inverness Caley Thistle? On this

form, they will not mind. We got off to a great start. The second half

performance was really controlled and measured. It has been a good day

for the club. The supporters have been fantastic. But the players

deserve all the credit for applying themselves brilliantly, handling the

expectations and doing a good job. I have got to commend the players for

trying to get back in the game. We created some problems for Aberdeen.

But they were clinical when it came to the crunch. We were not. It is

the first big cup final for me personally, and something to look

forward to for the fans. I feel like we're with the fans. We did not have

a great season last year. Jonny Hayes was man of the match. Aberdeen

are within touching distance of this trophy. They are in the final. I do

not think many people would have seen the 4-0 victory coming? No, it

was a bit of a shock. They got themselves settled into the game and

they had good backing from their supporters. If they get onto the

front foot, they are hard to contain. I think you can get at

them, attacking wise, but yesterday was a great game for them. They were

relatively comfortable. St Johnstone made little contribution

themselves? Yes, the first goal, it was the mistakes in one. Frazer

Wright misjudged the flight of the ball. Aberdeen would have gone into

the game with a bit of trepidation. They have not been to a cup final in

14 years. But to get the first goal after three minutes settles you.

Aberdeen get the bit between their teeth and they are never going to

let that go. To be fair to St Johnstone, they came back into the

game. But goals change games and Aberdeen got the goals at the right

time. It was a comfortable victory. Are they the second-best team in

Scotland? Yes, I think they are at the moment. Some of the Inverness

fans may not like me saying it because we have aspirations to

finish second in the league. But on their day, Aberdeen are very good. I

think Adam Rooney will end up in double figures for the second half

of the season for Aberdeen. We beat them in Aberdeen last week, and I

would say that they have similar type of players. If you catch their

players on an off day, they are certainly beatable. But fair play to

Derek McInnes. Aberdeen are healthy for Scottish football. You see the

good travelling support. The fans are behind the club. It was a great

occasion. What was not great is that the Celtic manager was watching it

and he was forced to leave early. According to his agent, he was spat

at, and he was the subject of verbal abuse. I'm except double behaviour?

Completely. -- unacceptable behaviour. The manager is there. He

is watching a game of football. There is no justification for those

actions against him. It is terrible. We do not want to see that sort of

thing in the game. The sooner these things get stamped out, the better.

That is the first of the semifinals dealt with. Aberdeen are through.

Let's hear from the managers in two-day's game.

You are on a good run of form at the moment. Was it a big decision to

stick with the team that has been winning, with Ryan Stevenson

available again? It was difficult. It was the first time this season I

have had a selection dilemma. This month, we have played very well. We

have had good victories, but we have played well, so for me, there is no

reason to change it. You fell at the final hurdle last season, how much

of an achievement would it be for you to put that right this season?

It would be great. We will have a difficult game today. Inverness have

already beaten us twice this season. But if we can play like we have done

this month, I am sure we can get a result. What would it mean to you to

get the team to a cup final? It would be a fantastic achievement. We

have had a difficult season. We are facing a really strong Inverness

side. We know how difficult it will be. They have beaten us twice

already this season. But hopefully we can get through to the final. We

wish you all the best. This is a repeat of last year's semifinal.

How do you make sure the end result be different? Hopefully history will

not repeat itself. We have made four changes. I believe the side will win

this football match. We have more physical presence in the team from

last week. I have great trust in these players. Gary Locke has told

me that the things Inverness Caley Thistle are strong favourites for

this? Do you believe that? No, because the game is being played at

Easter Road in Edinburgh, they will have the advantage in terms of

support. I said to the players, it is just like going to Tynecastle,

and the last time we went there, it was 2-0 to us. The boys have been

training well, and they are well prepared. I think they want revenge

for last year. Good man. We wish you all the best.

How much has the complexion of this game changed between the time when

the draw was made and how these teams are shaping up now? When the

draw was made, we were red-hot favourites. I do not agree that we

are favourites now. We should win, given our experience, but I take my

hat off to the young lads at Hearts. I think their fan base is terrific.

It is probably my favourite place to play football, Tynecastle. They have

been a massive boost for the club. I think that will be a factor if it is

a dry going into the last ten minutes. All credit to the fans for

what they have done this season. We know that they are going to go down.

It is to the detriment of Scottish football. Having Rangers and Hearts

out with our top league is not healthy for the ball in this

country. -- for football. Can you understand why Gary Locke has left

Ryan Stevenson on the bench, can you understand why he is sticking with

his team? Completely. His team has won two games on the trot for the

first time this season, so he wants to stick with that. It is the

manager's prerogative. It is personally not one I would have

made, what I would be looking to get my experience players back into the

side. Inverness Caley Thistle is a club that is not yet 20 years old.

Inverness have never been in a major cup final. How much of an

achievement would it be? Winning a cup, getting into Europe, these are

the things that we need to do. I have said many a time, I have had

some steak for it up north, we do not have the fan base that the club

deserves. Our success over the last few years has been incredible. --

some stick. Hopefully the cup final would help us to increase our local

fan base. Will it be Inverness Caley Thistle? Will it be Hearts in the

League Cup final in six weeks time? We are about to find out. The second

of the semifinals, live on the BBC. Talking you through it, Billy Dodds

and Liam McLeod. The same competition, the same

teams, the same arena, just 12 months on from their League Cup

clash. Hearts and Inverness prepared to renew their acquaintance. --

prepare. Hard suffered a horrible season.

They are at the bottom of the league, and they were hammered in

the Scottish Cup by a record scoreline by Celtic. But they will

get no sympathy from Inverness Caley Thistle. Many of the players

featured last year in the penalty shoot out defeat. No Ryan Stevenson,

a big call from Gary Locke, that one. Not but he's been able to have

a selection they are a booking away from missing the final. The referee

is 32-year-old John Beaton. He will have much to do to suppress the

majority of the supporters inside Easter Road today. 18 goals for

Billy Mackay this season. Callum Paterson scored against Saint Mirren

during the week. He is proving to be an important player in a position

that is not his natural one. The third meeting between the teams this

season. John Hughes still bedding himself in with just two victories

so far. One of those was that to ripen zero win over Hearts. -- 2-0.

Flickr is of life from the Jam Tarts but they remain 16 adrift at the

foot of the table. It promises to be a decent cup tied. Both sides can

realise the opportunity to get to a final will be tense. At some point,

there will be drama. We might even get those dreaded penalty kicks.

Philip Roberts, now at Falkirk, missed the decisive kick. Inverness

camped in the Hearts half of the early stages here.

They know the moment for the Inverness defence early on. No

communication from Warren. Callum Paterson is on the run. He gets

Inverness off the hook. That is a real mistake from Danny

Wilson, he does not want to be giving it to Billy McKay in that

kind of area. Somehow, it was scooped by Draper. That was begging

to be hit with the left, surely. Wilson gets himself in all sorts of

trouble. Unselfish from Mackay. Well off target. The first genuine

opportunity of his second League Cup semifinal. Aberdeen is already in

the final on March the 16th. We still don't know where it's going to

be played. That may be announced later today, who knows?

Greg Tansey is on, they brought him back. Flying into a feud tackles

early as well. A decent start to the match. Ross Draper such an important

part of the Inverness midfield. A free kick to the Highlanders.

Centre halves for Inverness making their way into the penalty area.

There they are. They've certainly got a height advantage. I heard John

Hughes talk about that at the start of the match. A brilliant take by

David Smith. Hearts fans like that, they put the

pressure on Inverness, force the error. A late lunch there, Jamie

Hamill and David Raven coming together. There have been a couple

of late challengers coming from Hearts players. Taking out late, but

much ado about nothing. He gets a yellow, though. Well, there were

plenty of yellow cards in last year's game. Nine in total. Robinson

is booked. He was sent off last year and now he's living a charmed life.

A booking in the sixth minute, have to be careful. They want to calm it

down a little bit. For Inverness players running the risk of missing

the finals. Hearts have one in Danny Wilson. Tossed into the box by

Warren. Danny Wilson turned 22 recently. Too

easy from the heart 's point of view.

Wonderful play from Vincent. Thistle delighted to see James Vincent back

in the team after a lengthy period out.

A lovely piece of technique. Brilliant from Vincent. It is

McDonald who holds on. Greg Tansey got himself into a wonderful area

inside the box. Too easy from Gary Locke's point of view. He will not

be happy with that. They are finding pockets of space, Thistle, in these

early exchanges. I think that's all that happens,

Patterson on him in a flash. There were a few changes in the

Inverness team to the one that lost. They bought Greg Tansey,

Draper Anna Watkins onto the site today. Shaking things up after a 2-0

loss. Inverness have not been to a major

cup final as yet. Vincent picking up the ball from Mackay. Billy McKay

was waiting for the ball to reach. I think that was dropping underneath

the bar there. Just needed to make sure it was out of play there. He

has to deal with it. It looks like an ankle knock. They sore one from

Smith. -- a sore one. A limp that he will try to run off. In the

meantime, a corner kick. It doesn't get past the first man.

The ball was moving so I think they are going to retake the corner kick.

That is what happened yesterday. Steve Banks never got away with it,

that the shore -- that's the shore, but Aaron Doran does.

The worrying thing for Hearts is it Inverness wins the header. Shaky so

far for Hearts. Inverness have started really well.

A decent run Hearts found themselves on.

Watkins couldn't take advantage and you can hear the reaction of Hearts

supporters. But in fairness, it was they who were in possession. I

mean, they've got the choice to play on or not. They looked as if they

were going to put it out. Maybe it should have been a free kick. I

think it was Aaron Doran who decided, no, we're going to keep it.

Sam Nicholson wins the free kick. He has been tortured soul, Gary Locke

this season. He has struggled with his squad. He only has five

substitutes today. Dylan McGowan's ball into the area.

It is headed over. That was a lovely cross. It just needed a downward

header from Dale Carrick. He could not get it onto the target. It was

not far away. Both teams are struggling to hold

onto the ball in the last minute so. There is another example of that.

Another header won by Paterson. The flag is up on the far side. He has

scored six times this season, Callum Paterson.

Another offside decision. It is very scrappy. I think that is because of

the good start. Let's hope that is the case. It was an excellent first

12 minutes to this match. That was good play initially by

Marley Watkins. He has drawn the free kick. He was under pressure,

with four Hearts players around him. He certainly has the pace to trouble

them. He is giving Kevin McHattie a hard time of it in this match.

Already, you can see that the effort is there from both teams. The Hearts

players are trying to get in amongst Caley Thistle. They are trying to

force them into errors. Perhaps that is their best tactic against a

well-organised Caley Thistle team. Jamie MacDonald looked like he had

that covered. In the end, it is an Inverness corner. How costly will

that be? I think that Wilson has got to deal with that. He has done the

right thing. Get it out, ask questions later.

Callum Paterson has taken a boot to the head. That is a sore one. It is

a brilliant cross from Graeme Shinnie. Paterson takes one for the

team. It is brave. He gets his team free kick in a vital area. Patterson

is OK. You can get highlights of this

semifinal and highlights of yesterday's semifinal, and

highlights of yesterday's Premiership matches. That will be on

Sportscene tonight. That is on BBC One Scotland.

The Inverness players are frustrated.

This is not for the faint-hearted. It is a good old-fashioned

semifinal. It is tightly match. A few tackles are filing in. --

tackles are firing in. Inverness have had composure so for

any match. Hearts are nervous. I do not know if that is coming from the

back four. Jamie Hamill wins the latest free kick against Greg

Tansey. The ball over the top is causing problems. The goalkeeper

comes and gets the ball, to be fair, but the back four are not sure.

Until the victory against Ross County, Hearts only had one victory

out of 19 in the league, against Aberdeen. You had Dylan McGowan

yelping their as Calum Shinnie commits the latest foul. -- as

Graeme Shinnie. That was difficult for the

goalkeeper. That part of his area is bathed in sunshine. Robinson and

Smith did well. Keep it in the cross. It was difficult in the

sunlight. Hearts need to get the ball into the lives in the wide

areas. That is Ryan Stevenson. He might have expected to start today.

There is a shout for handball against Greg Tansey. Mickelson has

pace to burn. For me, that is not a penalty. -- Nicholson has pace to

burn. The atmosphere in yesterday's League

Cup semifinal was terrific. Aberdeen reached their first final in 14

years. Inverness would love the taste of the big cup final.

Graeme Shinnie thought that was his ball. It has been evenly balanced in

the last ten minutes. Hearts are starting to come into it.

That was great play from Callum Paterson. It is a free kick. It is a

shame for Hearts, because they had three players waiting in the middle.

That was a good run by Dylan McGowan. Hearts have got to get

their fullbacks higher up the pitch. The centre backs can deal with Billy

McKay. That was good play from Paterson. Very direct.

Callum Paterson in on the jump. There's going to be a few knocks and

bruises in the wake of this game. Warren gets clattered over the top

and Callum Paterson gets a free kick against him.

Graeme Shinnie. He's got a free kick too. He may get a better angle here.

Trying to hold him off. That's why the wreck has given it. -- the ref.

Greg Tansey is the man over this. One of those where, if it goes in,

it's a wonderful goal. 25 yards from goal here. He is eyeing it up.

He doesn't even get it over the wall. He gets it passed it, but past

the goal as well. It would have been dark, probably, when they left this

morning. I'm sure a few of them had a bit of a night out in Edinburgh

last night. Not the worst place in the world for that. Hearts zero,

Thistle zero, a very even game, if you're joining us just now.

Sam Nicholson, I think he sensed that was coming. It is a yellow card

as well. Marley Watkins book. Watkins was quick, but that is a

yellow. Good play by Nicholson. David Smith is over this free kick

for Hearts. And that was always the danger. It is in the safe hands of

Jamie MacDonald. All sorts of trouble. He launches it, you can see

there. Brilliant from Jamie Hamill. A slip by McGowan. Just not sticking

in this final third. That's going to be a yellow card as

well, that's for Gary Warren. As I mentioned, some Inverness players

were running a brisk this afternoon and Gary Warren is one of those. If

Inverness make the final, he will not play.

He was booked earlier on in the competition. It won't surprise you

if you been following the competition. Gary Warren's other

booking came against Dundee United in the past round. Gary Locke was

watching right behind this. Scored against Saint Johnstone in that

recent draw will stop Hearts have got better as the heart has

progressed. -- as the game has progressed. They look as if they

could cause problems. Ten minutes to the break. Nothing each and nothing

between them. Now Graeme Shinnie fancies this. It

is a Thistle corner. David Raven is one of the other

Inverness players one booking away from missing the final. That was a

foul by him as well. He's been a handful, Patterson. Not much to go

with, but when he's got it, he looks the part. David Smith has to whip

this into the box here. The goalkeeper came and missed it

completely. Holds on, the second time of asking. Lucky boy.

What a great ball, he's found Billy McKay. What a save that is. From

Hearts Mr dependable, Jamie MacDonald. Wonderful goalkeeping

again. It is Jamie MacDonald, the hero again. Great movement from

Billy McKay I. A good clip from Draper. I tell you what,

nonetheless, what a fine stop that was. John Hughes thought his team

was in front there, and they would have been, but for Jamie MacDonald.

Save after save after save after save against Hibernian in the

quarterfinal. It was a astonishing display as Hearts won that game. But

this semifinal remains goalless. Those two have looked sharp. A

little reverse past. Unlucky again. He's had a couple

against him, Callum Paterson. That was well read by McHattie.

Inverness starting the match on the front foot. They are doing so again

at the end of the first half. Watkins was outmuscled there. To

Robinson. It's 11-10 in fouls to Callie Thistle. It has been

stop-start, really. It has. I think that is to do with the players'

mentality. I said if they don't get an early goal, players might start

thinking about it being a tense occasion. That plays its part. As I

said, there will be drama at some point in this one. There has to be.

We need a decision today. Extra time and penalties if needed. That's what

we needed between the teams last season. This is McKay. This is

promising. He's got options as well. A little reverse to Doran, pass out

wide to Watkins, but he is only thinking one thing. That strike was

not too far away. 18 this season. He scored 27 last

season. He has been such a talisman for Callie Thistle. He is here at

least until the end of this season, the transfer window shutting Friday

past. That is half-time. No injury-time at

the end of the first half. It's been eventful. It's not been a classic.

Ross Draper had an early chance for Inverness. Then Sam Nicholson, with

Hearts' best opportunity. Billy McKay with a wonderful chance

towards the end of the opening 45. What a save from Jamie MacDonald.

The guys will dissect that, I'm sure. John Hughes thought Callie

Thistle were going ahead at that point. At half-time, it is Heart of

Midlothian 0 - Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0.

STUDIO: We are not much closer to knowing who will line up against

Aberdeen to play for the League Cup. Let's get the view of my guests.

Your team started well. They should have hit the front. It's probably

got to an even stage? Yes, to be fair to Hearts, they came back into

the game. They had a wee half chance themselves, the penalty claim and

Billy has the real chance of the half where he will feel he should

have scored. It is one of these games where, if you get these

chances, and you don't score, will it not be your day? We are looking

strong. Do you feel as if Hearts have a foothold in the semifinal?

Inverness had the better of the opening part of that first half.

Hearts came back into it. They had a couple of wee opportunities there.

At the end, Inverness had a shot from Billy McKay. Hearts will be

more optimistic after the second half of that half there, that they

managed to get more of a foothold in that game. The chances were coming

thick and fast. This was Ross Draper. Should he have gone on the

left foot? I thought so. A bat mistake from the Hearts' defender.

If he lets it run across his body, he will still get to the ball before

the full-back. It was a bad mistake. We were talking about last year when

Billy McKay was on the end of a pass that was a wee bit too heavy. That

was fine and Draper has to do better. Yes. That was Doran with an

effort. It is underlining that, at that stage of the game, the play was

flowing in one direction. Yes. The problem we have got, Rob, other

players need to chip in with a few more goals. Billy is our top scorer,

which is great, but it is important somebody else chips in. You see that

one, that last opportunity there from a set-piece, that's really poor

from a Hearts' perspective. You can't allow Inverness to be given

that much space inside. It was almost the six yard box. That would

be concerning for the management team. You were concerned about

Hearts' vowel inneribility at the back from -- vulnerability at the

back from set-pieces? Danny Wilson with a slack backpass to the

goalkeeper that Billy McKay gets on to. Danny is very nice on the ball.

At times, his concentration can be better. Those lapses of

concentration - and that was almost punished. How is the Inverness team

selection working out? We spoke about it at pre-match? How is it

panning out now? John has picked a team with an eye on set plays. He's

probably been proved right. We have caused Hearts problems. We look a

threat. I think he probably realised we are going to get a lot of corners

with Doran and Watkins in behind the full-backs. So, I think we have

lacked a bit of guile at times. We have had plenty of the ball 50 yards

from goal. Apart from Billy, we want more from one or two others. This

Carrick header came from Hearts' first attack. It was quite a long

time coming? It was a good bit of play. It's a good cross from

McGowan. Carrick has space there. He could do better. You have to test

the goalkeeper and get it on target at least. As you said, that was a

fair bit into the game before Hearts had their first effort. We will key

that coming in. It is Vincent that is not tight enough with Carrick.

That is a good opportunity. You have to get the goalkeeper working there.

This was Sam Nicholson with a fierce strike. These are the moments that

might give Hearts a lift? Yes, especially young players. They need

to find their feet in a game. It will give them a lift. It will give

them more confidence. That is what we have seen. That's what Inverness

don't want to encourage? Yes, they want to maintain that upper hand and

almost suffocate the Hearts team. As Charlie says, the youngsters need a

bit of confidence and with those three incidents - Carrick - I know

he didn't hit the target - but it was more momentum towards the

Inverness goal - and Sam Nicholson, he cut in off the left-hand side and

had a good shot. If he had found the corner, it would have worked the

goalkeeper more. The ball was moving a fair bit. That gives the

youngsters the confidence to get on the front foot and attack Inverness

more. It was a first half not awash with goalscoring chances, so that

explains why people were getting overexcited about this penalty

appeal. It was not a penalty. We didn't think so. It would be harsh

to give a spot kick for that. It does strike Tansey's arm. His arm is

by his side. It was the correct decision. No penalty, no surprise.

But this was the chance of the half, wasn't it? It's one that most of us

would be putting our money on Billy McKay taking? It was good movement

from Billy McKay. Once he is in, look at this, he steps across the

defender well, but he's got to put that in. Somebody like Billy McKay,

you would expect him to do that. It was too much straight at Jamie

MacDonald. It was a good save. If Billy McKay had done what you

expected him to do, the goalkeeper would never have had a chance. He

was fouled early on by Scott Robinson, a challenge which produced

a yellow cashed. We hear that John Hughes is going bananas that this

was not a red card for Robinson. What do you reckon? At the time, I

didn't think it was a red card. Maybe now I have seen it a second

time - it shows you when you see it in a replay, it is a bit nasty. John

Hughes had a good view. Absolutely. It is one of these that could cause

injury. Sometimes Scott Robinson, he gets a bit caught up in those sort

of things, trying to put in tackles at times where he doesn't need to.

That's one incident there where he almost doesn't need to do that

there. Billy McKay is not going anywhere on the touchline. I think

it is better for everybody that there is 11 men on the pitch. You

are running the risk when you go in - and you could argue it was over

the ball. For the betterment of the game, I'm glad everybody has 11 men.

A really costly yellow card in that first half, if Inverness Caledonian

Thistle get to the final, Gary Warren will miss out? A massive blow

for Gary. He is a terrific guy. He took the decision to come up north

and play in the SPL. He's been a terrific signing and a really good

guy. It is a massive blow. It's a ridiculous rule. The guys that make

some of these rules have to sit down and reflect and for a boy for two

yellow cards and you see some of the tackles that go about Scottish

football these days, for a boy to miss out on perhaps his only ever

final would be a dreadful decision. In case you haven't seen the four

goals from yesterday - and just as an excuse for us to look at some

goals - let's look at what Aberdeen did to St Johnstone yesterday. It

all started with that miskick from Steve Banks and Aberdeen were ahead.

Yes. When you watch that again, it's three mistakes and one goal for St

Johnstone. Banks' mis-hit, Wright has missed the flight of it and

Anderson has left it at the far post. They will be disappointed to

be 1-0 down. Steve Banks is more of a coach than a player. You can start

to see there, he is 40 now, his movement is a bit slower. But Steve

Banks was a top drawer goalkeeper in his day. I have played with him. I

think this was one game too many for him. I would argue this one, there

is not much he could do about that one. Jonny Hayes was back to his

best yesterday. Great player. Great for Inverness. A real character in

the changing room. Yesterday shows that there is real quality. The word

that comes to mind, having seen that, was clinical? I don't think it

was the complete performance over the 90 minutes. But when they had

chances, they took them? A lot has been made of the resurgence of

Aberdeen this year. A lot of it has been down to the players Derek

McInnes has brought in. They want to win the game. I love seeing that.

People that are going to do whatever it takes to get them over that line

and get yourself into a Cup Final. That's changing the mentality.

Aberdeen would have gone into that game with trepidation, but getting

goals at the right time and having those characters in your team, that

is what changes you from losing semifinals to winning and,

ultimately, regardless of who wins this today, Aberdeen will be lifting

the trophy. Most of the trepidation would have centred around Stevie May

and the fact we are not speaking about him today probably speaks

volumes about the quality of Aberdeen? Yes, which I think they

are better team on the front foot, Aberdeen. Derek McInnes will be the

first to say that, too. If you keep Stevie May quiet, you have done half

of the job. He had a very quiet day yesterday. He's a wee bit like

Billy, if Stevie doesn't score, who else is going to get the goals?

Aberdeen become favourites. I'm not necessarily saying they will win it.

I like about the balance of the team. The mix of experience, hungry

players, youth players coming through the system and real winners.

He's got a tremendous balance. We mentioned Derek McInnes. He is in

the studio with us tonight as we reflect on the League Cup semifinal

weekend and also the two games in the Premiership from yesterday.

Back to the match which concerns us here, it is goalless at half-time.

They are competing to play against Aberdeen in the final in six weeks'

time. The word from downstairs is Ryan Stevenson enters the fray. I

don't know if it is an injury, we saw David Smith go into a block

tackle. I would suggest it is an injury because he has been a good -

he's been in a good vein of form. He wouldn't be the one you would

withdraw? No. Potentially, that is maybe a knock that he's picked up.

How does that change the complexion? It gives an added physicality to

Hearts' play going forward. #6 Ryan is more capable of dropping off the

game a wee bit, picking the ball up and as we saw in the derby match, he

will have a strike from outside the box without doubt. Hearts will take

a boost from the fact that the momentum of the match has swung from

that early 10 or 15 minutes when it was all about Callie Thistle and

it's - they are much more in it now? They definitely are. Equally,

Inverness will take heart from the fact that in the last couple of

opportunities of that half, Billy McKay had a couple of shots and they

managed to get their authority back. We spoke about it earlier, that the

young players need that bit of confidence. They are very fragile

and after the first 25 minutes, they would have been a bit nervous of

what was happening here. They managed to get themselves back in

and get a foothold and I am sure in the changing room there will be a

lot more confidence. This was the closest thing to a goal in the first

half here at Easter Road. Almost on the half-time interval as well.

Billy McKay sneaked in behind and you expected him to tuck this chance

away. You would have to give big credit to Jamie MacDonald for making

that save, even though in this sort of situation, we are so used to

seeing Billy McKay hitting the target. So, still goalless at

half-time. How is Billy McKay affected by missing chances? Or does

he come back for more? No. What has been noticeable - talking to a few

of the lads last week - in the last couple of months, these chances are

not going in for Billy. He's scored a lot of goals in a short period. I

think that if he keeps that one on the deck, it is a goal. You have to

credit the goalkeeper there. He is a type of guy - and it wouldn't bother

him. We return now to second half action in the League Cup semifinal -

Hearts against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Back to the commentary

team. COMMENTARY: Will we go all the way

through extra time and penalties, if necessary? The 30th meeting between

Hearts and Inverness. Hearts have won 11, Callie Thistle 8. There have

been 10 draws. Apart from the penalty shoot-out win last January,

Hearts haven't beaten Callie Thistle since November 2011. A 2-1 win at

Tynecastle. Inverness with seven survivors from

the side that lost the semifinal to Hearts last year.

Three in the Hearts line-up who played from the start against

Inverness in the semifinal last year.

Just looking at Hearts, the way they would go. I thought they would match

Inverness in midfield. They haven't. They have put Paterson on the

right-hand side. Ryan Stevenson is right up front. The front two - they

keep the 4-4-2. McKay has found Watkins. Wilson clears.

The referee is not giving Hearts a free-kick, though. Callie Thistle

will play on. You do normally see that kind of thing as a foul.

Watkins. Inverness fans behind Jamie MacDonald's goal, they were shouting

for a penalty! They didn't get the decision in the first half. John

Beaton disagreed. Callum Paterson has moved over to

the right-hand side of the Hearts midfield to allow Ryan Stevenson to

go up with Dale Carrick. He's won his side the first corner of the

second half. I thought it was a free-kick. Must have got a bit of

the ball. Watkins' pace is causing them problems. But they give away a

corner. Doran to take. The ones he took in the first half were not his

best. That was better. Flicked off the

head of Meekings. Shinnie. Another corner.

Vincent. Plays it back to him. The former Blackburn man. That's a big

shout for a penalty there as well. Nothing doing once more. They can't

believe that. Gary Warren went down in the box there very awkwardly.

Another sense of injustice. Warren will miss the final if Inverness

Caledonian Thistle get there. No takers in blue. Shinnie. Draper.

They are knocking it about quite well just now, Inverness.

They have started this second half the way they started the first.

Doran worked it into the back post for the penalty claim. I thought he

was already on the way down, that was my first impression. We will get

a look, maybe. Robinson. The Hearts legend is in front of the

stands and he's just taken his seat. That was theatrical, looking at that

again. Hearts didn't get one in the first half. Not for me again. He

made a lot of it. There he is. He was nearly a Hearts player again

Friday past. He is a free agent. The transfer embargo looks as though it

is going to be lifted later in the season. Hearts waiting on that news

from Lithuania, the official confirmation, the foundation of

Hearts, the supporters' group who are the preferred bidder for the

club, the future owners, it seems, are hoping for good news on that

front in the next few weeks. The transfer embargo will be lifted once

the club are out of administration. Here comical Callie Thistle. Still

they push forward. -- here come Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Still

they push forward. This is Shinnie. Great run from Graeme Shinnie.

That's a long ball for Carrick to chase.

Stevenson has three goals this season. Paterson has a long throw on

him. Watkins struggling to see where the

ball was there. Draper. Watkins again. It might fall to Draper. A

little bit too far in front of him there. He was trying to get that on

his left foot, which he should have used in the first half early on.

That's Raven. Hearts are having to hang in again.

Draper did ever so well. He held it up, he waited, a great weight of

pass and nearly got on the end of it.

Tansey couldn't resist it! Little wonder when you can do that! A

wonderful strike. Hearts go to the referee because they wanted a

free-kick for handball. MacDonald has been booked as well. Callie

Thistle don't care about that. Greg Tansey with a thunderbolt that could

take them through to their first major Cup Final! What a goal! You

don't strike them better than that. It reminds me of the Ryan Stevenson

goal against Hibs here. The same sort of shot. Power, pace,

precision. All in the one. A bit lucky with the clearance. A claim

for the handball. What can you do about this? No chance for MacDonald.

Stunning from Greg Tansey! That is genius!

There was a big shout from John Beaton who is coming over to speak

to the fourth official. I think someone in the Hearts technical

staff has had a little too much to say here. Gary Locke is there. The

goalkeeper coach as well. It's a warning for him. Hearts are

absolutely raging about the decision that wasn't given. The one that John

Beaton took. They felt there was a hand bhal. No doubt, it -- Handball.

No doubt, it struck a hand. Was it Robinson who tried to clear it? He

comes off Doran's hand. It was really close to call that one a

handball. It was just blasted against him. Let's forget about the

handball. What about the strike? We will have a look at it. How unlucky.

What can he do there? I think that would have been really harsh. What

about Tansey's strike? Absolute perfection. Artistry from Greg

Tansey and that has given Callie Thistle the initiative. This kind of

game, it was almost going to be something like that that was needed

to break the deadlock, something that was going to fire the match and

light the blue touch paper. Hearts came from behind to beat St Mirren

in midweek. They have to come from behind again to keep their League

Cup Final dream alive. As things stand, it will be Aberdeen against

John Hughes' Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Two different players in their day, there, it has to be said. Yes, just

a bit. John used to win it and give it to Russell to go and play. That

is how it was. They loved a night out. He knows his job as well. That

is why he brought him to the club. There is a long way to go, though.

Hearts have that bit about them. They will keep going about it. They

will work their socks off and they are not out of this just yet.

Russell Lafferty loved his time at Hibernian. The decision goes against

Hearts again. A real sense of grievance from the maroon half of

Edinburgh. That is where John Beaton has to let it flow. I don't think

that is a free-kick again. He is blowing for everything now. He has

to calm things down and let the game flow a bit.

Greg Tansey scored five times in his first spell at Callie Thistle. This

is his second appearance in his second spell. He was away at

Stevenage for a while. He has signed an 18-month contract and he has

already rewarded the club for showing their faith in him with

that. What a strike! If you want to get it pure, that is the way to do

it. You don't catch it any better than that.

So, Billy, Gary Locke, what is he thinking now? He will leave it for a

little while yet. It will be running through his mind, of course. They

have to make sure they don't lose another one too quickly. They need

to keep it to one because they will fashion out a chance, Hearts, it

will be whether they can take it or not. Paterson gave them a good

presence up front in the first half. He is on the right side of the field

in the second. Doran with the early ball looking for McKay. It might

come to McKay here. He needs support. He gets it from Watkins.

Hearts are all over the place at the back right now. They need to calm

down. Vincent was inches away from getting

a connection to put them 2-0 up. Hearts got the decision here. But

the supporters were wanting more. Nicholson is brought down, John

Beaton taking centre stage today. He has got a few right, but there

are a lot of petulant once he could have let go and let the game flow.

He has blown too much for my thinking.

Good ball for Doran. Aaron Doran is on his own and had to go for goal

himself. Hearts have to open up no, Inverness

or finding space. -- are finding Inverness have one foot in a League

Cup final, Aberdeen are already there, sitting with their feet up.

They cannot afford to go 2-0 down. Inverness are bossing it right now.

John Hughes played in only cup final for Ayr United. -- interleague cup

final. -- in the a League Cup final. Stephenson draws the free kick for

Hearts. -- Stevenson. He was a Hibs manager

as well, of course, John Hughes. Very much a Hibee.

McGowan -- Stevenson has not seen much of the ball since coming on at

half-time. We want some magic from him. That wasn't bad, was at?

Picked up by the man whose goal separates the teams, Tansey. It will

come to Callum Paterson year. A chance to level! Again! And Raven in

the right place at the right time. You could see that developing, the

players just clash, then it comes to Paterson, he stands up ever so well,

Raven does what all good defenders do and gets it off the line. An

excellent opportunity to equalise. But as good and as important as safe

as the Jamie MacDonald one in the first half. -- as important a says.

-- save. It is disappointing for Hearts,

there will be a substitution. They were alleged to bring in a new face

during the transfer window, Adam King leaving to go to Swansea. They

will bring on McCallum, on loan from West Ham. All six foot three of him.

He was a hero against Inverness last year in the semifinal here, and

there is still plenty of time, albeit we are into the final third

of the 90 minutes. A change will be made now.

Dylan McGowan is off and Paul McCallum is on. He has been most

recently on loan at Torquay, where he scored three goals in six

appearances for them. A chance to see what he can do.

Talking about fashioning a chance, he did so with Paterson. He now

finds himself at), started as a striker. -- he finds himself at

right back. And the roar from the Hearts

support, as well. So much to gain, so much to losing

semifinals. Headed away by Shinnie and the counter is on.

He is unlucky, Paterson, he certainly did enough. I tell you

what, he has done a shift today, hasn't he? Just because of his pace

and the way he has put himself about, causing problems, then got

that glorious chance to equalise. That is a free kick right on the

edge of the box. The card is out, as well. It is a second yellow for

Warren. Caley Thistle are down to ten men, a shot in the arm for

Hearts. A wonderful free kick opportunity, as well. Well, how

games can change. Mickelson gets himself to within

about making yards. Warren does give him a little town on the jersey.

Whether it is worth a yellow... It is a free kick, no doubt, but

sending off? Do me a favour. John Hughes is trying to calm Danny

Warren down as he heads up the tide as Micro up the tunnel. We would be

seeing him again, we were not going to be seeing him in the final

anyway. At now, the final 24 minutes, Hearts have a one-man

advantage, they are a goal down. Kevin McHattie has a wonderful left

foot on him. That looks what -- like what they are shaping up for you.

Hearts looking for a leveller. It is deflected in! The free kick

works, and Jamie Hamill levels this League Cup semifinal. It is game on!

It was well worked. They were thinking all day long that

McHattie would just shift it, but Hamill just spins it. Well, they

have deserved a bit of luck, they get it. The deflection carries it

past Brill. It just falls in the far corner and now Inverness, from

nowhere, are right up against it. Quick as a flash, this tide has

turned. A massive chunk of Fortuna on that one.

-- chunk of fortune. Hearts don't care.

Inverness are making a change, they will be bringing on Devine. John

Hughes cannot believe it. His team, pretty much in charge at that point,

Hearts were getting more into it. They brought on their new signing.

He was involved in the build-up that led to the free kick, as well. He

was. As much as I don't think it was a

sending off, Hearts have been doing a job. They have had a few decisions

go against them today, but they got fortunate for that one. I tell you

what, they took full advantage. You would think now heavy favourites, 11

against ten. Warren will be taken off to be

replaced by Danny Devine, the 25-year-old from Belfast. He will

slot into the defence. It is a decision he was forced to make

because of Gary Warren's sending off and it is double jeopardy for

Inverness after that goal going in. It looked like they were setting up

for McHattie to blast it from the -- in the goal. It skipped back off

Draper. Another free kick here. It is beginning to unravel for the

islanders. -- highlanders. They should be said -- taking their

time, setting it up. We are where we were last year. 1-1,

a sending off, a couple of sitters missed. One in particular.

Hamill takes the free kick again! He has scored again! What a turnaround

at Easter Road. Inverness's dream is slipping away from them. Our Hearts

heading back to our cup final? They have come back from 1-0 down.

Well, we have seen to absolutely brilliant goals here. I tell you, as

much as the first one was a bit fortunate with the deflection, no

fluke about that, that is magnificent from Hamill. He is a

left foot but what is it with the right. Brilliant, son.

What a finish from Hamill. Ryan Stevenson I think has been

booked in the wake of all, as Barry Locke celebrates with Hamill. One of

the elder statesman at Tynecastle has come up with a double. And now

it is the have one foot in next week's League Cup final against

Aberdeen. -- now it is the. -- they. Confirmation that Ryan Stevenson was

booked. That was for his part in the celebrations. Just the one Hearts

running the risk of missing the final if they get there, and that is

Danny Wilson. It really is so sharp. The movement

over the two or three yards there was excellent. Just can't get the

purchase on the header. McCallum looks a decent prospect for

Hearts, we have only seen him for about five minutes.

Paterson has gotten himself into trouble. He has played just about

every position today apart from goalkeeper.

Less than three minutes between the two Hearts calls, the two free

kicks. Two minutes 49 seconds is what it took for Hearts to turn this

match on its head. It promises to be a very intriguing final 18 minutes.

It has been a really good second half, hasn't it? Hearts still go at

it, get the equaliser, get themselves in front, and Inverness

down to ten men. Now they are having a go with the corner kick. Zipped

into the box! And unbelievable save from Jamie

MacDonald, this time to deny Meekings.

Set pieces play a big part. John Hughes gets the run, Meekings, it is

a bullet header, he does ever so well to get it over the top. That

looked like it was flying into the net.

Another Inverness corner. Can he keep it alive here? Draper's effort

blocked. The Hearts enjoyed that from the new

boy, McCallum. McKay wanted it, played in front of

him, as well. Esson pulled off an excellent save just before the

Hearts onslaught. -- Brill. At the start of the second half Hearts were

swimming against the time, Billy. Well, you never know in this game.

And Gary Locke is smiling because of this from Jamie Hamill.

You can see where Ryan Stevenson was booked, as well. There you go,

guilty as charged. Jamie Hamill, two for 214 one, it is 2-1 to the

Jambos. -- two for him. Two for Hearts.

There wasn't much in the first-half but in the second half we seen two

absolute howitzers. Gary Locke with his arms folded, he

took Hearts out last year in the semifinal, they lost to St Mirren.

This is why we have a stoppage now. Callum Paterson has been in the wars

today. John Hughes can't believe it, Billy,

can he? Yes, he must be thinking, cruise

control, doing really well, then the sending-off makes a game of it. He

is trying to get numbers forward from midfield. Ross still on the

bench for Inverness. Inverness did lose their last game

in the Premiership, against command.

Just one win in 19 games for Hearts in the league. They had that

controversial draw against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park couple

of weeks ago. 16 points adrift at the bottom of

the Premiership, moving well into the second half of the season,

Hearts. Vincent had that pinched off him by

Hamill. 12,762 in Easter Road today. A lot

of glum highlander faces behind Jamie MacDonald's goal. And no

wonder. They were reasonably comfortable and it completely

changed in the space of less than three minutes. Inverness have it all

to do moving into the final. I am just wondering what will do. --

what Hearts will do. Maybe just every time Inverness get the ball,

carry it off. Jamie Hamill would love to reach the

final, obviously, but in particular he missed the Scottish Cup final

when they were with Hibs, he missed the League Cup final last season

with that audible cruciate -- horrible cruciate injury he had that

kept him out for so long. Big redemption for him if things stay

the way they are. Inverness still have time, though.

Tansey is over this. Everyone bar Dean Brill, the goalkeeper, is

inside the territory for this. Still alive, still a chance. Watkins

didn't know where the ball was. Both managers casting their eyes

over the pitch. The crowd cheer, because they will get the decision.

They feel a few decisions have gone against them today. John Hughes, I

am sure, will have a grievance about the red card shown to Gary Warren.

Booked in the first half, but in the second, sent off. It is a big call

from John begin. He is a former centre half himself. -- John

Peterson. -- Beaton. Ryan Stevenson had that nicked away from him,

Nicholson is on the deck. He is making a big impression on the

Hearts after his debut back in August. This is the incident I was

talking about. It is actually two players there, Watkins and Warren,

and who gets the file? But there was no luck about this

one, no fluke. Absolute genius from Jamie Hamill. A postage stamp, I

think they call that. There is a man who knew how to play

the game, former Hibs manager, led them to the League Cup in 2007. They

blitzed Kilmarnock that they at Hampden. -- that day. Not a bad

playing career, either, former Scotland international.

Always remembered as the man who scored on the opening day of the

1998 World Cup. Callum Tapping is coming on for Hearts, Sam Nicholson

is struggling. Tapping is a good midfielder. He is one of those who

has taken the opportunity to play first team football with the Hearts

squad down to the bare bones. Inverness are working into a huddle,

trying to figure out how they can get involved in this. Certainly a

few minutes added on at the end, Sam Nicholson, sadly, looks as though he

is going to have to come off on a stretcher. You can see him holding

his ribs there, he just landed awkwardly.

He is certainly a handful. A more robust midfielder coming on. Callum

Tapping trying to see this game out for Hearts. You can see that huddle,

they have some intent, this Inverness team.

It sounded like that took a touch on its way through there.

It is a good job this game is at Easter Road, not Tynecastle, for

John Beaton, I don't think he would be getting out.

I think the most important call of the day did Hearts a favour, or two.

Or three. The red card was followed by two

goals. Inverness moved from a winning position as they tried to

reach their first ever major final. It doesn't look like they will now.

They have not threatened since Josh Meekings's header. That was

brilliantly saved by the Hearts number one.

He also saved two brilliant shots from McKay.

Paterson has some space, he is going all the way himself!

Meekings got in the way. He has had an eventful day, hasn't he? I tell

you, he has an eye for the goal. He is full of confidence and gets his

shot away. By good run from Paterson.

Sam Nicholson has just been stretchered off in front of the main

stand now. He has been in good form, I hope he is not facing a spell out.

Nick Ross will, and for Caley Thistle, replacing David Raven.

Heading towards the 90 minute mark, Hearts so very close to a place in

the League Cup final. Who is your man of the match today, Billy?

Inverness were better for long stages of the game and Callum

Paterson has been an excellent performer for Hearts, but I think

one man changed it. It is Jamie Hamill. With all the trouble she

went through, injured, missing finals, he has turned the game on

its head. He has not had a brilliant game but his two goals have changed

this game and my man of the match -- BBC Scotland man of the match today

is Jamie Hamill. Tansey gave them the lead. That was

cancelled out by two Jamie Hamill goals. Warren having been sent off

for Caley Thistle. Stranraer are in the Scottish Cup fifth round match

next week, a potential banana skin, they are not out of this yet,

though. Teams who are behind tend to fashion some kind of opportunity.

Shinnie! I tell you what, worth a pop, it

will just sat for him perfectly. He caught it well enough. Good striker.

A minute-and-a-half plus injury-time.

They will get a free-kick there. That was good play.

It is looking like League Cup heartache for Inverness again. They

have been here before. It was a penalty shoot-out last season. That

was their first major semifinal. This is their second. In both, they

have played Hearts, and they are on the verge of losing to Hearts again.

Inverness need the ball at the other end of the park.

There will be five minutes of stoppage-time.

This is a situation they can scarcely believe. If there is time,

there's hope. With Billy McKay in your team, anything is possible.

Meekings will find himself... He's off! I thought he was going to that

top pocket again. It was cynical from Meekings. He was trying to get

- Meekings has decided, "I've lost the ball in a dangerous area, I'm

taking him out." He takes a walk. It is all going to pot, as they say!

Down to nine men, Callie Thistle. Josh Meekings has lashed out there

in frustration. He was sent off himself in this game last season.

Cynical. Callie Thistle have lost both their centre-halves this

season. -- this afternoon. Graeme Shinnie was booked, too, in the

midst of all that. It is all going Hearts way right now.

Hearts are heading to the 2014 League Cup Final, it seems. Aberdeen

await. This is Stevenson. He will happily take the corner and eat up

more time. Three minutes of stoppage-time remaining. This is

going in the box with that two-man advantage.

Take your time. They need to get the big lads left on the piece up for

the set-piece. If they fashion an equaliser, they will have to play

extra time with two men shy. They will continue to hunt an equaliser.

Jamie MacDonald holds on for dear life. He will be in no rush to

release this. Inverness just haven't enough men on

the pitch to get a runner. Faces of anguish from the Inverness end.

Nick Ross is still there! It's gone in! This is incredible! On their

knees, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, two men down, have equalised! Quite

incredible scenes at Easter Road! The Highlanders are back in this. We

are going to extra time. My word, I said there would be drama, but I

didn't expect this. They have never given up. They have shown a

togetherness. Watkins does ever so well. Helped into the box. Nick Ross

gets it. He reacts quick enough and they scramble it. You think there

couldn't be anymore. But that is just unbelievable timing for

Inverness! You have to say, over the piece, they deserve that! Just

unbelievable! John Hughes roaring. Gary Locke -

look at that. Unbelievable. This second half has had it all. It's had

everything. We are going to have another half an hour here. Nick Ross

for nine-man Callie Thistle, has saved this cup tie, for now. The

odds are still against them. Two men down against Hearts. From 1-0 down,

after a thunderbolt from Greg Tansey. Josh Meekings was sent off

in stoppage-time period, five minutes of which were added on at

the end. From nowhere, Nick Ross, on as a late substitute for John

Hughes, thrown on more in hope than expectation, he's found the net, has

somehow found a way to drag Inverness Caledonian Thistle back

into this semifinal and we have another half an hour at least,

possibly penalties as well. At the end of 90 minutes, Aberdeen have to

wait a bit longer to find out who they will face next month. Heart of

Midlothian 2 - Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2. Incredible!

non-event. That turned into some game. It makes for a fantastic

semifinal here. To get it snatched away at the last

moment. Obviously, they have extra time to get the result. But second

half, fantastic. The Inverness fans are exhilarated. John Hughes is

exhilarated. At this point, reality dawns. They have only nine players

on the pitch. I was wondering what formation he is going to come out

with at extra time. Is he going to go 3-4-1? It is difficult. Inverness

would take penalties now. It is a great advert for Scottish Cup

football. Lots to talk about as well. Two red cards and maybe they

shouldn't have been two red cards? They were a bit harsh. It's added to

what has been a great spectacle in the second half. Yes, the two red

cards were slightly harsh. Especially that second one. Mind

you, the second yellow card for Meekings as well was - sorry for

Warren was harsh. Tremarco is coming on and James Vincent is going off.

Back to Billy and to Liam. COMMENTARY: I bet you Inverness

Caledonian Thistle would take penalties right now. Half an hour

against a team with two more players. A tall order for Callie

Thistle. There seemed no hope for them. Already, Hearts have tested

Dean Brill. The Inverness fans behind the goal are enjoying their

afternoon again. They are loving that save from Brill. Yes, you feel

as if there will be a few more Hearts shots peppering that goal.

What a save from Brill. Paterson hangs it in there. He does

well, attacks it. Brill does well to keep that one out. The header away

by Wilson. Tapping takes over. The ball is bouncing about. McHattie

almost in. The door is slammed in his face.

Scotland open their Six Nations account today in Dublin. That is

kicking off in the next hour or so. Once we are done here, we will be

here for the rest of the extra time and for the penalties as well, we

will be continuing online with the post-match reaction.

That leaves Billy McKay up front and he will be filling in when ever he

can. When Hearts have the ball, which you would think would be quite

a lot, it will be two banks of four, for Inverness, trying to get at

least penalties. Four of Hearts last six League Cup ties, they have all

gone to penalties, including the two rounds before the quarterfinal when

they knocked out Raith Rovers and Queen of the South.

They will want this game put to bed before the Lottery starts.

Tremarco. We played Morton in midweek and went down to eight

outfield players. You have a back four, your three in midfield have to

work their socks off and the striker has to flood back in there. It will

be some shift for Inverness to get through this. It is possible. You

mentioned that high-profile example, I seem to remember in the 1990 World

Cup, Cameroon played Argentina, the holders in the opening game, they

went down to nine men and won 1-0. Rangers in the League Cup Final in

2009 against St Mirren, Danny Wilson, the Hearts skipper playing

today, was sent off playing for Rangers that day. Still, he got the

medal. Tapping almost got there. It might

still fall - a shout for handball. It was Stevenson's effort. A big

shout as well. I tell you what, Draper has dived at that to keep out

the second attempt. You see it coming in here. It hit his hand

there, it's hit his hand there. But just tried to get anything in the

way. He tried to pull his arms into his body there. There was no sign of

the arms being out. Inverness Caledonian Thistle are one

of the best organised sides in Scotland. This is not easy for

Hearts, despite having an advantage. There is no way through. Inverness

have everyone back. McHattie. There was no sign in the

first half of this game - there was no indication of what we were going

to see in the second 45. The second 45 had everything. We knew a goal

would make the game wide-open. We knew there was going to be drama -

and we have had that. There is still a bit to go. As I said, we mentioned

at the start of the game, the old penalty kicks. It could get there as

well. You don't get any more dramatic than that. Inverness are

having to defend this as well without their regular central

defensive partnership of Warren and Meekings.

This will be one of the great rescue missions if they can reach the

final. Hearts with all the ball, as you would expect. Seven minutes into

the first period of extra time. It is Stevenson's delivery.

No-holds-barred clearance from Greg Tansey who gave Inverness the lead.

Brad McKay. Callum Paterson. He took himself on there! The reason we are

still here is because of Nick Ross. Watkins took no chances there. You

can see how deep they are inside their own six-yard box. No surprise

there. Hearts have got to get somebody on the ball and create

something in a tight situation. Stevenson to Hamill. Paterson.

Knocked away. It's a Hearts corner. It's a big,

blue brick wall. Inverness have built it and Hearts can't get

through. That is the way Inverness have to play it. Stevenson plays it

in. It is headed over by Brad McKay. He thinks he should have had a

decision before this reached the back post. You want Stevenson to get

on the ball. He can pick out a pass and a cross. On that occasion, he

does. You don't have a better chance than that.

Nobody is anywhere near the halfway line - and I include Billy McKay in

that. What you do in this situation with

eight outfield players, you give away the width. That is what you

have to do. You keep it nice and tight. John Hughes is pulling over

Nick Ross and Tremarco. You defend from deep inside that box. It is all

a bit huff and puff at the moment. Another one. Tapping. It's gone

against Hearts there. You mentioned the Six Nations today, Scotland

opening their account against Ireland in Dublin. They will be

proud of that scrum! What was the free-kick for? He blew it early. I

don't think Callum Tapping could believe it. John Beaton gives a

free-kick. After we are done here, after extra time and penalties if

needed we will be continuing all the post-match reaction on our website.

Here comes Billy McKay for Inverness. What outcome will we be

dissecting? Nick Ross took him out - this is in a wonderful area for

Inverness. This is the kind of opportunity that they have been

waiting for. They have sat in and sat in, ever since the extra time

period started. This is the one time they have managed to get out. Yes,

they did ever so well. Nick Ross is fresh. He takes Paterson on. He's

clipped. No doubt, it is a free-kick. Inverness will take their

time and make sure they put it into a good area, or at least get it on

target. Hearts have left a few up. It has to mean that Inverness have

to leave players outside the box as well. Tansey takes it. Flicked on by

McKay and MacDonald is there. Good movement from McKay. A little

shift, a little flick. Comes off the Hearts player and luckily it flies

into MacDonald's arms. Paterson switches for McHattie. Too

high. The final minute of the first period

of extra time. Hearts 2 - Callie Thistle 2. Billy McKay. Watkins.

Ross trying to get into the middle. Good play by Scott Robinson.

Hearts will try again. Paterson. The goalkeeper has come.

They have to try and get behind that Inverness back four. I know it is

difficult. If you hang crosses up from wide areas, it will be the

goalkeeper's all day long. Drama upon drama at Easter Road. We are no

further forward in knowing who will be meeting Aberdeen in next month's

League Cup Final. It is Hearts 2 - Inverness 2 at half-time in extra

time. Greg Tansey giving Callie Thistle the lead after a fairly

uneventful first half. It exploded into life in the second period. That

goal from Tansey was a thunderbolt. It was a wonderful goal. Slamming it

from distance past Jamie MacDonald. Inverness deserved their lead at

that point. They were the better side. Then, all of a sudden, Warren

picks up a second yellow card, was sent off, Jamie Hamill scores a

deflected goal and a couple of minutes later, he curls one in

himself to make it 2-1 to Hearts. All the way until the fourth minute

of stoppage-time at the end of the second half. Nick Ross, after Josh

Meekings had been sent off to reduce Callie Thistle to nine men, Nick

Ross turning home an effort to make it 2-2. That's where we are at. And

just 15 minutes left before a penalty shoot-out. Unless one of

these teams can conjure something up. In truth, Dean Brill didn't have

that much to do. The only save he had to make was from McCallum at the

start of that extra time period. Wilson is there for Hearts. That was

the only sight of goal that Hearts got. It was. The second half had

everything. And the extra time has not come up with anything yet.

Whether it is a dramatic winner for Hearts or Inverness, or we go to

penalties. The second half had everything. Long from Tremarco and

MacDonald scampers across. He gets away with it. This is a great Cup

tie. It's certainly come to life. Not sure the Hearts and Inverness

fans would agree with that. Whoever wins this may enjoy the re-run.

Stevenson's cross. Brill keeps his eye on it. You have to do more than

that. He's got the technique to fashion a lovely cross, which he

does, but from deep areas, it is hanging up there a long way. You

have to try and make passes nice and incisive and quick and try and pull

Inverness players out of position. They have not been able to do that

so far in extra time, Hearts. You can sometimes panic in a situation

like this. The pressure is all on Hearts right now. While it is

outfield play, the pressure is very much on them. Inverness are

delighted to be in extra time. It didn't look likely.

This is Watkins. Tremarco. Ross. He might go for a curler. He was

looking for the back post. MacDonald saw that away. Inverness, with nine

men, had the effort on goal. The clock continues to tick down. Hamill

again encouraged to shoot. Again from distance. Going back to

Inverness, they were brilliant. Ross could have given Tremarco the pass

back, he didn't, and he went for the far corner. They can do better than

that from distance. Inverness won't be worrying too much about shots

like that. Aberdeen sealed their place in the

League Cup Final yesterday with a 4-0 win over St Johnstone. Four

goals here as well, but they have been shared. Are we going to a

penalty shoot-out, as we did a year ago?

Billy McKay is on his own. That was tremendous play. Now it is with

Ross. Billy McKay, when he first arrived at Callie Thistle, he didn't

fire, but the next couple of seasons, he has fired!

That is why we are playing this extra time. Jamie Hamill. For

Paterson. It is such a congested penalty area. The Hearts supporters

are left in frustration. Yeah, he took his time there. He has to take

a touch, Hamill, and feed him nice and early. They were sitting on

their 18-yard line. If he moves it quickly to Paterson, I'm sure he

gets a couple of yards on him. Once he waits, Tremarco is on his way

out, and the cross is poor. We have some cramp. That is understandable.

Just a bit. The Inverness bench - Duncan Shearer

and Russell Lafferty has just joined Callie Thistle. Back in his old job.

This is the goal scored by Nick Ross. He gets fortunate. It is a

lovely touch. With that amount of Hearts bodies in the box, you would

expect Nick Ross to be picked up. He is fresh. He loves to shoot. Maybe

they don't know who has come on the pitch and they don't pick him up.

Anyway, he gets a break of the ball and bundles it home. What a vital

goal that could be, especially if we get to penalties. It would be

fairytale stuff. They are down to eight men right now. Watkins is off

the park. I don't think he will be off for long. He will be back on as

soon as possible. This does seem to be going Callie

Thistle's way right now. That is remarkable. When you consider where

they were after 93.5 minutes of this semifinal. Nine minutes of the extra

time left. That is what they have to negotiate. Both teams have to do

that. If you had been tuning in right now

and expecting to see the oval ball, you will be seeing that soon enough.

Scotland taking on Ireland in their Six Nations opener. But the football

will continue on our website. All the post-match reaction to come from

here. Hearts are left frustrated again by the referee.

Clearly off the hand. He didn't react quickly enough, Tapping. I

know Hearts are tired now. Just imagine how Inverness are feeling.

Although they are tired, they have to get that ball moving quickly, or

they won't break down this Inverness defence in midfield. This is Callie

Thistle's fourth attempt at a major semifinal. They lost the other

three. As things stand, you sense that

Jamie MacDonald and Dean Brill are going to be busy in the near future.

Unless one of these sides can fashion a winner and Billy McKay

almost managing it. Hearts haven't defended this at all. It is McKay.

Big shout for a penalty. Ross' shot is blocked. Still, Callie Thistle

come with Tansey. It is well over. Billy McKay has taken a knock. He is

getting back to his feet. It is Inverness that are finding the

space. They haven't defended well all day, Hearts. Not a penalty.

McKay kicks into him. Eventually, the shot over the crossbar.

Free-kick to Hearts. We haven't seen much of Dale

Carrick, really. Inverness have everyone back. Nobody left up. That

allows Hearts to put more into the penalty area. McHattie's free-kick.

The goalkeeper thought about coming. Tapping was after it with Watkins,

who got there first. It is Callum Tapping. They are knocking on the

door again. It is wide from Paterson. They are doing enough,

Inverness. Draper gets a head on it. Then, I think it is Wilson on the

way back. He can't get the header on target. Gary Locke is a frustrated

man. It has just been the most incredible journey for Gary Locke in

the last 12 months, 11 months. He led them out in the League Cup

Final as caretaker manager. They got through the summer and the

money wasn't coming in. Still all that needs to be resolved. That is

more important, of course. But the finance of another final as well

wouldn't go amiss. This is Paterson. Wide again. Sometimes you have to

turn out of that. It is a wide area and Inverness are sitting nice and

deep. Turn out, come back up the pitch, Robinson was waiting there.

They tried to force the cross. Inverness are set. That ain't going

to bother them. Keep nice and tight, don't let them through. We will take

that. We will get our head on it when it comes in. We said at the

start of extra time that Inverness would have ripped your arm off for

penalties. We are not far off that now. Four-and-a-half minutes to go.

Ryan Stevenson. It breaks to Stevenson. Robinson.

Hamill. Back off Tansey. That was better. They showed patience.

Eventually, they work it down the wide area. The cross is poor from

Hamill. That's a foul. Yellow card for Brad

McKay. That is brilliant from Billy McKay.

Just takes a touch, uses his experience, holds it up, waits for

the tackle and goes down. That's the two McKays.

Tremarco finding Billy McKay. Nick Ross.

To Shinnie. Billy McKay again. He is onside. It was blocked. Hearts can

come away. Three minutes left. Robinson.

Hamill. He is going to get it back. McCallum! That was a chance. That

was brilliant from Hamill. He whipped that cross in. He plays a

pass into the box. Just held up there, laid off by Carrick. And then

a lovely dink. He gets a run on Shinnie, McCallum. All he has to do

is keep it down. He can't. Instant hero status awaited there for Paul

McCallum. Hearts are desperate to avoid a

penalty shoot-out. Scott Robinson. Paterson is an option again.

McCallum wins it. The hearts fans wanted a penalty. No appeal from the

players. Draper got a foot on it, no doubt. Hamill. Tapping wanted it.

They couldn't find him. Watkins instead. Dean Brill clears. And

finds Billy McKay. We are moving into the final minute

of extra time. McKay was wonderful. I know Brill has taken a touch and

another touch, but McKay drifts across. He knows it is going into

that area. He holds it up and gets his team a throw-in.

One last throw of the dice. That was a poor ball, really poor ball.

Tansey can hoist it away. A tired ball. They have to concentrate on

their technique and the delivery. Seconds left. One minute of added

time being added on as well. That is straight at Dean Brill again and he

holds on. They were have very close to the

final. If they have not had enough drama at the club! The extra time

has been frustrating. Both sets of supporters are going to have to

suffer a penalty shoot-out very soon. It is a shoot-out Inverness

would have taken when 2-1 down at the end of the second half. They

might yet win it outright. Here is Graeme Shinnie. Good run from him.

Did that come off the Hearts man last? No, Shinnie keeps it in play.

Pinched off him by McHattie. It is the final few seconds. McHattie -

and Graeme Shinnie wins the ball back. Ten seconds left. It's been

given to Draper. It's penalties! A pulsating Scottish League Cup tie

here at Easter Road. Tansey for Inverness put them in front, a

double from Hamill turned it on its head at 2-1. Nick Ross rescued it

deep into second half stoppage-time. Somehow, the nine men of Callie

Thistle have taken this game to penalties. Hearts' advantage has

gone. It is now a lottery. It finished here Heart of Midlothian 2

- Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2. STUDIO: We have been there before, a

year ago in the League Cup semifinals. Hearts and Inverness

went to penalties to decide who was going a step further. It is same

again here at Easter Road and I guess the question for lots of

people, especially the Hearts fans at the moment is, why or how could

Hearts make their numerical superiority tell? They put McKay

through the middle and for some strange reason Hearts kept four

players at the back. I find that bizarre. That is the opportunity

where you have got to take the initiative and force Inverness on to

the back foot. To keep four players at the back, two full-backs in place

and you are playing against one striker, that makes no sense. You

need to press yourself higher up the pitch. The crosses in weren't good

enough either. I didn't see McCallum touch the ball for Hearts there.

Dean Brill didn't have a save to make. You need to - you expect more

when you are playing against nine men. It is disappointing, very

disappointing. Now, as Liam just said, Hearts' advantage is out of

the window. Hats off to Inverness for how they played with nine men.

They even managed to carve out a couple of chances? Yes, one of the

most creative bits of play was from Nick Ross and Billy McKay. When you

are playing against nine men, eight outfield players, you are happy that

teams throw the ball in. The only time they created a chance was when

they played a clever one-two. I thought we saw the half-hour through

quite comfortably. You have the inside track. Who is taking these

penalties for Callie Thistle? Are you feeling confident? I tell you

the problem - there are some very tired legs out there. Tremarco and

Ross will be favourites. Tansey will take one. Draper and McKay will be

my guess. It is a lottery. The one good thing is, Dean Brill is a good

shot-stopper. I would fancy him. It will take a good penalty to beat

him. Hearts are looking for this to go the way it did a year ago?

Charlie is right. The one worry for Inverness is the fact that the guys

- will they have enough concentration and not be too tired?

They have put in a great effort there. Hearts have been

disappointing. They have to concentrate on trying to get through

to the final here and it's a lottery, though. Some nerve-jangling

moments for us all to go through here. We have all been through it. I

don't think many of us enjoy it. It is a horrible thing to go through

for the players. Both sets of players have really given us

something - we didn't expect this after half an hour. They have served

up a cracker. It is time for the shoot-out. Back to the commentary

team. COMMENTARY: Advantage Hearts! He

struck it well enough. MacDonald guesses the right way. Good height

for him. Not a great start for Inverness. Good save by MacDonald.

Paul McCallum, who just arrived at the club, just before the weekend,

has a chance to press home that initiative.

He can't do it! We are level again. What next? Brill is another one who

guesses the right way. He shows him what way he is going to hit it.

Don't take anything away from the keeper. That is a great stop. It is

the same end at Easter Road the penalties were taken last season.

Billy McKay. He makes it 1-0 to Inverness! MacDonald goes left.

McKay opens out his body but drags it the other way. That one is right

in the corner. It been drama from start to finish. Dale Carrick is

next up for Hearts. The 20-year-old. Will Dean Brill save it? No, he

won't. It is 1-1. After the first two were missed, you think how is it

going to go, but the last two have been excellent. Young man with big

shoulders, sticks it in the corner, brilliant from Carrick. Hearts have

won their last four League Cup shoot-outs. Nick Ross, the man who

took us here. He scores! Great penalty. It was. He put the laces

through it. Head down and thumps it. High and handsome. No chance for

MacDonald. Next up for Hearts is the regular spot-kick taker, Jamie

Hamill. A double in normal time. It looked like he had already taken

Hearts to the League Cup Final. Good save! It's advantage Callie

Thistle! To be honest, I was waiting on Hamill thumping it. He tries to

hook it into the corner. Brill is on his way. It was well enough hit and

it was a great save. 2-1 to Callie Thistle. Next up for them is Greg

Tansey. What a goal he scored earlier on in this game to put

Inverness 1-0 up. Hearts need Jamie MacDonald here. Tansey thumps the

ball into the net. Wonderful spot-kick again and now it is