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

:00:26. > :00:40.A goes! It was the best of times. Philip Roberts has discord to keep

:00:41. > :00:48.Inverness in this semifinal. It comes... Over the bar! It was the

:00:49. > :01:12.worst of times. It was the season of light. It was the season of

:01:13. > :01:24.darkness. It was the spring of hope. It was the winter of despair. We had

:01:25. > :01:34.everything before us. We had nothing before us. It was a tale of two

:01:35. > :01:44.cities. It was a tale of two destinies. This is a new chapter,

:01:45. > :01:48.but we are echoing footsteps. Well, a lot has happened to these

:01:49. > :01:53.two teams in the last 12 months as the pair of them squarer again in

:01:54. > :02:00.the League Cup semifinals. Same teams, same venue as a year ago, and

:02:01. > :02:09.a big prize at stake. The final is six weeks away. Hearts and Inverness

:02:10. > :02:14.looking to take a significant step towards landing this League Cup, the

:02:15. > :02:24.second of these semifinals is live on the BBC in the company of the

:02:25. > :02:30.former Hearts captain and manager. Shortly, we will look at highlights

:02:31. > :02:35.of the first of the semifinals yesterday, Aberdeen against Saint

:02:36. > :02:41.Johnstone. But before that, the all-important team selections,

:02:42. > :02:45.brought to us by Leon McLeod. Good afternoon, a very nice day for a

:02:46. > :02:50.football match, 12 months on from when these two clashed in last

:02:51. > :03:03.season's semifinal stage. They will have revenge on their minds.

:03:04. > :03:09.Inverness are favourites again. Hearts have had a couple of decent

:03:10. > :03:14.results in the last couple of weeks. I think it was a dilemma whether to

:03:15. > :03:20.go in with the same team or to change it, without confidence.

:03:21. > :03:29.Inverness, it has been up and down since John Hughes is taken over. As

:03:30. > :03:38.you can see, no Ryan Stevenson on team. At least he is available on

:03:39. > :03:48.the bench. It is a nice dilemma for Gary Locke to have. Hearts haven't

:03:49. > :03:53.been able to do that this season. This all hoped to have their skipper

:03:54. > :04:04.back. He's not even made the bench. Yes, they certainly have a team

:04:05. > :04:10.strong enough out there to do the business, especially with that

:04:11. > :04:15.midfield. Last season's semifinal between the teams had just about

:04:16. > :04:24.everything. I think there were nine bookings all told. A couple of

:04:25. > :04:28.goals, the post was hit. Aberdeen are sitting at home with their feet

:04:29. > :04:38.up to wait and see who they will face in the next final. It is

:04:39. > :04:41.Sunshine on Leith this -- this Sunday and there is some deja vu

:04:42. > :04:45.about these two being thrown together again. I suppose it is a

:04:46. > :04:52.painful recollection for you to look back. Yes, when the draw came out of

:04:53. > :05:04.the hat we got a bit of a shock will stop --. We had a great opportunity

:05:05. > :05:09.that day and I think up north they booked their tickets for the final

:05:10. > :05:16.that day. Today is a slightly different game. I think we going to

:05:17. > :05:24.did a's game as they breadth and if we play well we should win. Terrific

:05:25. > :05:27.to win on penalties and get to a cup final, but you don't really remember

:05:28. > :05:32.the semifinals when you go on to lose the final. Of course it was

:05:33. > :05:38.disappointed for Hearts to go to the final and lose but it would be even

:05:39. > :05:42.more disappointing to not get to the final at all. Obviously we're seeing

:05:43. > :06:01.the goals here, a fantastic goal map. This one here, I think it was

:06:02. > :06:08.just a wee bit too hard. That is certainly what Billy McKay would be

:06:09. > :06:12.saying. A fantastic day for Hearts, but ultimately when you get to the

:06:13. > :06:18.final and you don't win it, it is a huge disappointment. Now, what about

:06:19. > :06:25.those team selections. It immediately raises your eyebrows.

:06:26. > :06:32.Ryan Stevenson is on the bench. Yes, it is a massive call, but ultimately

:06:33. > :06:35.it is the manager's decision. I'm sure Ryan will be very disappointed,

:06:36. > :06:41.but if called upon he will be looking to make an impact.

:06:42. > :06:48.Personally, I would be looking to utilise your strongest players. This

:06:49. > :06:53.highlights exactly why he is one of the strongest players on the team. A

:06:54. > :06:58.fantastic strike. He was just in front of us that day. Apart from

:06:59. > :07:02.that, Hearts offered very little. But Ryan Stevenson popped up with a

:07:03. > :07:10.fantastic goal like that. I'm sure he will be very disappointed he is

:07:11. > :07:13.not in the starting line-up. The line-up against Saint Mirren was

:07:14. > :07:21.basically to get him ready to play today. The other team must be

:07:22. > :07:27.pleasantly surprised to see he is not there. There was talk of the

:07:28. > :07:34.Thistle captain being ready to start after a break. He's not played much

:07:35. > :07:40.at all, is a fitness wise, he's missed a lot of training. He was

:07:41. > :07:43.back full-time last week for the first time. I'm a little bit

:07:44. > :07:47.surprised he's not on the bench because he an influence in the

:07:48. > :07:55.changing room. But I'm even more surprised Ryan Stevenson is not

:07:56. > :08:00.playing. It caused a bit of a Ferrari up north when the game was

:08:01. > :08:11.shuffled so that he wasn't playing. -- a furore. Another reason why I

:08:12. > :08:18.would've played Ryan Stevenson is to give a bit more physical stature the

:08:19. > :08:25.line-up. Danny Williams played two weeks ago and he is a good player,

:08:26. > :08:28.so I feel sorry for him. The Premiership table has a different

:08:29. > :08:35.look about it in recent weeks the both these teams. Thistle is now

:08:36. > :08:42.struggling to hold on both these teams. Thistle is now

:08:43. > :08:50.struggling to to the coat-tails. And Hearts are finally in the plus

:08:51. > :08:53.points. Looking at the results for Inverness since John Williams has

:08:54. > :09:00.taken over, obviously when you look at these usual to put them alongside

:09:01. > :09:08.results prior to that, said two wins in nine games does not sound that

:09:09. > :09:12.hot. No, and John is well aware of that. It is a bold thing to look at

:09:13. > :09:15.to be honest. He's come in and he's tried to change the way we play

:09:16. > :09:23.slightly at the club, which is not easy. John has come in and wanted to

:09:24. > :09:27.tamper with things slightly. easy. John has come in and wanted to

:09:28. > :09:30.tamper with I admire the way he wants to play football. He wants

:09:31. > :09:43.people to know what they're doing and play a short passing game. This

:09:44. > :09:49.is one of only two wins so far, and Inverness have won both games

:09:50. > :09:54.against Hearts this season. Again, because Billy Mackay really. He is

:09:55. > :10:00.the important player. He is vital. The fact we didn't lose him in the

:10:01. > :10:09.transfer window is a big plus. You surprised there wasn't anybody

:10:10. > :10:12.coming in? I am. I would think half ?1 million for Billy Mackay would be

:10:13. > :10:17.a sensible side by Championship side. Do you think John Hughes is

:10:18. > :10:24.under pressure today, at this early in his tenure? There is a lot of

:10:25. > :10:30.pressure. He will be given time, but there is pressure. We've missed the

:10:31. > :10:35.opportunity to go to a final three times, so it is the next obvious

:10:36. > :10:40.step for the club, which in itself gives pressure. Hearts are in a good

:10:41. > :10:44.place at the moment relative to where they burn. There was a

:10:45. > :10:50.comeback against Saint Johnstone to get a draw and now back-to-back

:10:51. > :10:57.wins. Obviously the first time this season where they had back-to-back

:10:58. > :11:01.wins. We see a David Smith, someone who's really come up in a game in

:11:02. > :11:09.the last few weeks. A lot of the youngsters look as if there's been a

:11:10. > :11:14.weight taken about their shoulders. This was a slightly fortuitous

:11:15. > :11:19.penalty. But Hearts could easily have been on the wrong end of a lot

:11:20. > :11:24.of those bad refereeing decisions, particularly penalties throughout

:11:25. > :11:28.the season. It's a bit of confidence, probably the best run

:11:29. > :11:33.they've had all season so far. They will be going out with confidence

:11:34. > :11:37.due to those results. We will talk more about this game prior to

:11:38. > :11:41.kick-off, but let's go back 24 hours and see what happened in the first

:11:42. > :11:52.of the League Cup semifinals, Aberdeen against Saint Johnstone.

:11:53. > :11:59.Aberdeen have never lost to today's opponents in 24 previous meetings,

:12:00. > :12:03.ten of those in a League Cup. It is not all good for the Dons though.

:12:04. > :12:12.They've lost the last five semifinals. Two changes have been

:12:13. > :12:22.made to the starting side. It means a debut from Logan. Steve Banks

:12:23. > :12:26.continues in goal for Saint Johnstone. Brian Easton comes in as

:12:27. > :13:04.lap back. -- left back. They will decide between themselves

:13:05. > :13:17.who is best to deliver. Kicked clear. Robson with a crossing

:13:18. > :13:25.opportunity. Steve Banks gets an important love to it. -- glove to

:13:26. > :13:38.it. A dangerous ball into the near post here from Robson. Banks kept it

:13:39. > :13:44.out. Adam Rooney is the best figure and has plenty of support. And

:13:45. > :13:57.Aberdeen are in front at! And it is Jonny Hay 's! Tab Basil is rocking

:13:58. > :14:03.to the sound of Aberdeenshire 's. -- of Aberdeen cheers. Will this be

:14:04. > :14:10.their year to finally get back to a cup final? Adam did tremendously

:14:11. > :14:14.well. The ball was led by Anderson and Mackay. No chance for Steve

:14:15. > :14:37.Banks. A goalkick given now. That will be

:14:38. > :14:44.worth another look. No touching the ball that. That quite easily could

:14:45. > :15:03.have been given as a penalty kick. A brilliant save. What a chance that

:15:04. > :15:12.was and what a save by the Aberdeen keeper. A stroke of luck there and

:15:13. > :15:25.Jamie Lang Field earns his luck by touching now want to the post. He

:15:26. > :15:35.must've he'd scored. -- thought he'd scored.

:15:36. > :15:51.And he's got another one! Aberdeen doubled the lead. A brilliantly

:15:52. > :16:04.taken goal. It was a swift counterattack. A brilliant finish

:16:05. > :16:09.under the body. They are two goals up. Are they on their way to the

:16:10. > :16:29.League Cup final? That is a corner to St Johnstone,

:16:30. > :16:51.right in front of their own fans. St Johnstone cannot turn a tin. It

:16:52. > :17:00.was Gary MacDonald. Eventually Frazer Wright's effort came off the

:17:01. > :17:17.crossbar. It was helped behind by Reynolds.

:17:18. > :17:26.That was Peter Pawlett, looking for his second goal. The goalkeeper goes

:17:27. > :17:33.down. Did he catch Adam Rooney? I think it is offside, rather than the

:17:34. > :17:42.penalty that Aberdeen wanted. It is a good effort from Peter Pawlett.

:17:43. > :17:44.The goalkeeper could not hold it. Adam Rooney was running from another

:17:45. > :18:12.site position. It is 3-0 for Aberdeen. Aberdeen are

:18:13. > :18:21.surely into the final of the League Cup. Devastating counterattacking

:18:22. > :18:32.football by Aberdeen. St Johnstone, cot on the back foot. From nothing,

:18:33. > :18:45.Aberdeen moved 3-0 up. Adam Rooney has to make goals into Mac games. --

:18:46. > :18:55.Adam Rooney has two goals in two games. There is the face of the man

:18:56. > :18:59.who knows that his side are beaten. Aberdeen have a chance to add a

:19:00. > :19:16.fourth goal. Considering rattles the woodwork. -- Considine rattles. He

:19:17. > :19:17.was very unfortunate to see that strike the crossbar, with the

:19:18. > :19:41.goalkeeper rooted to the spot. That is wonderful from Jonny Hayes.

:19:42. > :19:50.It is turning into a rout for Aberdeen. Their fans are utterly

:19:51. > :19:57.jubilant. The players know that they booked their place in the League Cup

:19:58. > :20:02.final long time ago. Jonny Hayes has a second goal of the match. It is

:20:03. > :20:05.the fourth goal for Aberdeen and despair for St Johnstone. Delight

:20:06. > :20:20.for those in red. The referee brings the League Cup

:20:21. > :20:27.semifinal to a close. It has been a glorious day for Aberdeen. Jonny

:20:28. > :20:31.Hayes got them off and running. Derek McInnes has gated them back to

:20:32. > :20:42.a cup final after five semifinal defeats. -- has guided. It was

:20:43. > :20:48.formidable staff from Aberdeen. Now we must wait to see who the

:20:49. > :20:59.opponents will be. Will it be Hearts of Inverness Caley Thistle? On this

:21:00. > :21:03.form, they will not mind. We got off to a great start. The second half

:21:04. > :21:08.performance was really controlled and measured. It has been a good day

:21:09. > :21:15.for the club. The supporters have been fantastic. But the players

:21:16. > :21:21.deserve all the credit for applying themselves brilliantly, handling the

:21:22. > :21:26.expectations and doing a good job. I have got to commend the players for

:21:27. > :21:31.trying to get back in the game. We created some problems for Aberdeen.

:21:32. > :21:37.But they were clinical when it came to the crunch. We were not. It is

:21:38. > :21:42.the first big cup final for me personally, and something to look

:21:43. > :21:48.forward to for the fans. I feel like we're with the fans. We did not have

:21:49. > :21:53.a great season last year. Jonny Hayes was man of the match. Aberdeen

:21:54. > :22:01.are within touching distance of this trophy. They are in the final. I do

:22:02. > :22:09.not think many people would have seen the 4-0 victory coming? No, it

:22:10. > :22:12.was a bit of a shock. They got themselves settled into the game and

:22:13. > :22:17.they had good backing from their supporters. If they get onto the

:22:18. > :22:23.front foot, they are hard to contain. I think you can get at

:22:24. > :22:32.them, attacking wise, but yesterday was a great game for them. They were

:22:33. > :22:37.relatively comfortable. St Johnstone made little contribution

:22:38. > :22:42.themselves? Yes, the first goal, it was the mistakes in one. Frazer

:22:43. > :22:50.Wright misjudged the flight of the ball. Aberdeen would have gone into

:22:51. > :22:56.the game with a bit of trepidation. They have not been to a cup final in

:22:57. > :23:02.14 years. But to get the first goal after three minutes settles you.

:23:03. > :23:07.Aberdeen get the bit between their teeth and they are never going to

:23:08. > :23:12.let that go. To be fair to St Johnstone, they came back into the

:23:13. > :23:17.game. But goals change games and Aberdeen got the goals at the right

:23:18. > :23:22.time. It was a comfortable victory. Are they the second-best team in

:23:23. > :23:27.Scotland? Yes, I think they are at the moment. Some of the Inverness

:23:28. > :23:32.fans may not like me saying it because we have aspirations to

:23:33. > :23:41.finish second in the league. But on their day, Aberdeen are very good. I

:23:42. > :23:46.think Adam Rooney will end up in double figures for the second half

:23:47. > :23:51.of the season for Aberdeen. We beat them in Aberdeen last week, and I

:23:52. > :23:56.would say that they have similar type of players. If you catch their

:23:57. > :24:08.players on an off day, they are certainly beatable. But fair play to

:24:09. > :24:13.Derek McInnes. Aberdeen are healthy for Scottish football. You see the

:24:14. > :24:19.good travelling support. The fans are behind the club. It was a great

:24:20. > :24:24.occasion. What was not great is that the Celtic manager was watching it

:24:25. > :24:28.and he was forced to leave early. According to his agent, he was spat

:24:29. > :24:38.at, and he was the subject of verbal abuse. I'm except double behaviour?

:24:39. > :24:46.Completely. -- unacceptable behaviour. The manager is there. He

:24:47. > :24:51.is watching a game of football. There is no justification for those

:24:52. > :24:56.actions against him. It is terrible. We do not want to see that sort of

:24:57. > :25:02.thing in the game. The sooner these things get stamped out, the better.

:25:03. > :25:11.That is the first of the semifinals dealt with. Aberdeen are through.

:25:12. > :25:17.Let's hear from the managers in two-day's game.

:25:18. > :25:22.You are on a good run of form at the moment. Was it a big decision to

:25:23. > :25:28.stick with the team that has been winning, with Ryan Stevenson

:25:29. > :25:33.available again? It was difficult. It was the first time this season I

:25:34. > :25:38.have had a selection dilemma. This month, we have played very well. We

:25:39. > :25:44.have had good victories, but we have played well, so for me, there is no

:25:45. > :25:47.reason to change it. You fell at the final hurdle last season, how much

:25:48. > :25:53.of an achievement would it be for you to put that right this season?

:25:54. > :25:59.It would be great. We will have a difficult game today. Inverness have

:26:00. > :26:03.already beaten us twice this season. But if we can play like we have done

:26:04. > :26:10.this month, I am sure we can get a result. What would it mean to you to

:26:11. > :26:15.get the team to a cup final? It would be a fantastic achievement. We

:26:16. > :26:21.have had a difficult season. We are facing a really strong Inverness

:26:22. > :26:25.side. We know how difficult it will be. They have beaten us twice

:26:26. > :26:31.already this season. But hopefully we can get through to the final. We

:26:32. > :26:35.wish you all the best. This is a repeat of last year's semifinal.

:26:36. > :26:42.How do you make sure the end result be different? Hopefully history will

:26:43. > :26:48.not repeat itself. We have made four changes. I believe the side will win

:26:49. > :26:54.this football match. We have more physical presence in the team from

:26:55. > :26:58.last week. I have great trust in these players. Gary Locke has told

:26:59. > :27:03.me that the things Inverness Caley Thistle are strong favourites for

:27:04. > :27:07.this? Do you believe that? No, because the game is being played at

:27:08. > :27:13.Easter Road in Edinburgh, they will have the advantage in terms of

:27:14. > :27:18.support. I said to the players, it is just like going to Tynecastle,

:27:19. > :27:23.and the last time we went there, it was 2-0 to us. The boys have been

:27:24. > :27:29.training well, and they are well prepared. I think they want revenge

:27:30. > :27:34.for last year. Good man. We wish you all the best.

:27:35. > :27:37.How much has the complexion of this game changed between the time when

:27:38. > :27:43.the draw was made and how these teams are shaping up now? When the

:27:44. > :27:49.draw was made, we were red-hot favourites. I do not agree that we

:27:50. > :27:54.are favourites now. We should win, given our experience, but I take my

:27:55. > :28:00.hat off to the young lads at Hearts. I think their fan base is terrific.

:28:01. > :28:05.It is probably my favourite place to play football, Tynecastle. They have

:28:06. > :28:10.been a massive boost for the club. I think that will be a factor if it is

:28:11. > :28:16.a dry going into the last ten minutes. All credit to the fans for

:28:17. > :28:21.what they have done this season. We know that they are going to go down.

:28:22. > :28:26.It is to the detriment of Scottish football. Having Rangers and Hearts

:28:27. > :28:38.out with our top league is not healthy for the ball in this

:28:39. > :28:41.country. -- for football. Can you understand why Gary Locke has left

:28:42. > :28:49.Ryan Stevenson on the bench, can you understand why he is sticking with

:28:50. > :28:53.his team? Completely. His team has won two games on the trot for the

:28:54. > :29:01.first time this season, so he wants to stick with that. It is the

:29:02. > :29:05.manager's prerogative. It is personally not one I would have

:29:06. > :29:10.made, what I would be looking to get my experience players back into the

:29:11. > :29:16.side. Inverness Caley Thistle is a club that is not yet 20 years old.

:29:17. > :29:21.Inverness have never been in a major cup final. How much of an

:29:22. > :29:27.achievement would it be? Winning a cup, getting into Europe, these are

:29:28. > :29:31.the things that we need to do. I have said many a time, I have had

:29:32. > :29:37.some steak for it up north, we do not have the fan base that the club

:29:38. > :29:47.deserves. Our success over the last few years has been incredible. --

:29:48. > :29:57.some stick. Hopefully the cup final would help us to increase our local

:29:58. > :30:01.fan base. Will it be Inverness Caley Thistle? Will it be Hearts in the

:30:02. > :30:07.League Cup final in six weeks time? We are about to find out. The second

:30:08. > :30:13.of the semifinals, live on the BBC. Talking you through it, Billy Dodds

:30:14. > :30:18.and Liam McLeod. The same competition, the same

:30:19. > :30:24.teams, the same arena, just 12 months on from their League Cup

:30:25. > :30:27.clash. Hearts and Inverness prepared to renew their acquaintance. --

:30:28. > :30:39.prepare. Hard suffered a horrible season.

:30:40. > :30:43.They are at the bottom of the league, and they were hammered in

:30:44. > :30:48.the Scottish Cup by a record scoreline by Celtic. But they will

:30:49. > :30:53.get no sympathy from Inverness Caley Thistle. Many of the players

:30:54. > :31:12.featured last year in the penalty shoot out defeat. No Ryan Stevenson,

:31:13. > :31:33.a big call from Gary Locke, that one. Not but he's been able to have

:31:34. > :31:58.a selection they are a booking away from missing the final. The referee

:31:59. > :32:03.is 32-year-old John Beaton. He will have much to do to suppress the

:32:04. > :32:17.majority of the supporters inside Easter Road today. 18 goals for

:32:18. > :32:21.Billy Mackay this season. Callum Paterson scored against Saint Mirren

:32:22. > :32:32.during the week. He is proving to be an important player in a position

:32:33. > :32:37.that is not his natural one. The third meeting between the teams this

:32:38. > :32:44.season. John Hughes still bedding himself in with just two victories

:32:45. > :33:02.so far. One of those was that to ripen zero win over Hearts. -- 2-0.

:33:03. > :33:08.Flickr is of life from the Jam Tarts but they remain 16 adrift at the

:33:09. > :33:20.foot of the table. It promises to be a decent cup tied. Both sides can

:33:21. > :33:25.realise the opportunity to get to a final will be tense. At some point,

:33:26. > :33:35.there will be drama. We might even get those dreaded penalty kicks.

:33:36. > :33:46.Philip Roberts, now at Falkirk, missed the decisive kick. Inverness

:33:47. > :34:02.camped in the Hearts half of the early stages here.

:34:03. > :34:12.They know the moment for the Inverness defence early on. No

:34:13. > :34:19.communication from Warren. Callum Paterson is on the run. He gets

:34:20. > :34:41.Inverness off the hook. That is a real mistake from Danny

:34:42. > :34:46.Wilson, he does not want to be giving it to Billy McKay in that

:34:47. > :34:56.kind of area. Somehow, it was scooped by Draper. That was begging

:34:57. > :35:07.to be hit with the left, surely. Wilson gets himself in all sorts of

:35:08. > :35:16.trouble. Unselfish from Mackay. Well off target. The first genuine

:35:17. > :35:21.opportunity of his second League Cup semifinal. Aberdeen is already in

:35:22. > :35:30.the final on March the 16th. We still don't know where it's going to

:35:31. > :35:46.be played. That may be announced later today, who knows?

:35:47. > :35:59.Greg Tansey is on, they brought him back. Flying into a feud tackles

:36:00. > :36:09.early as well. A decent start to the match. Ross Draper such an important

:36:10. > :36:50.part of the Inverness midfield. A free kick to the Highlanders.

:36:51. > :36:59.Centre halves for Inverness making their way into the penalty area.

:37:00. > :37:03.There they are. They've certainly got a height advantage. I heard John

:37:04. > :37:10.Hughes talk about that at the start of the match. A brilliant take by

:37:11. > :37:35.David Smith. Hearts fans like that, they put the

:37:36. > :38:00.pressure on Inverness, force the error. A late lunch there, Jamie

:38:01. > :38:07.Hamill and David Raven coming together. There have been a couple

:38:08. > :38:17.of late challengers coming from Hearts players. Taking out late, but

:38:18. > :38:24.much ado about nothing. He gets a yellow, though. Well, there were

:38:25. > :38:37.plenty of yellow cards in last year's game. Nine in total. Robinson

:38:38. > :38:46.is booked. He was sent off last year and now he's living a charmed life.

:38:47. > :38:53.A booking in the sixth minute, have to be careful. They want to calm it

:38:54. > :38:58.down a little bit. For Inverness players running the risk of missing

:38:59. > :39:03.the finals. Hearts have one in Danny Wilson. Tossed into the box by

:39:04. > :39:32.Warren. Danny Wilson turned 22 recently. Too

:39:33. > :40:11.easy from the heart 's point of view.

:40:12. > :40:18.Wonderful play from Vincent. Thistle delighted to see James Vincent back

:40:19. > :40:30.in the team after a lengthy period out.

:40:31. > :40:44.A lovely piece of technique. Brilliant from Vincent. It is

:40:45. > :40:50.McDonald who holds on. Greg Tansey got himself into a wonderful area

:40:51. > :40:58.inside the box. Too easy from Gary Locke's point of view. He will not

:40:59. > :40:59.be happy with that. They are finding pockets of space, Thistle, in these

:41:00. > :41:32.early exchanges. I think that's all that happens,

:41:33. > :41:51.Patterson on him in a flash. There were a few changes in the

:41:52. > :41:59.Inverness team to the one that lost. They bought Greg Tansey,

:42:00. > :42:06.Draper Anna Watkins onto the site today. Shaking things up after a 2-0

:42:07. > :42:45.loss. Inverness have not been to a major

:42:46. > :42:51.cup final as yet. Vincent picking up the ball from Mackay. Billy McKay

:42:52. > :43:13.was waiting for the ball to reach. I think that was dropping underneath

:43:14. > :43:21.the bar there. Just needed to make sure it was out of play there. He

:43:22. > :43:38.has to deal with it. It looks like an ankle knock. They sore one from

:43:39. > :43:39.Smith. -- a sore one. A limp that he will try to run off. In the

:43:40. > :43:58.meantime, a corner kick. It doesn't get past the first man.

:43:59. > :44:05.The ball was moving so I think they are going to retake the corner kick.

:44:06. > :44:12.That is what happened yesterday. Steve Banks never got away with it,

:44:13. > :44:26.that the shore -- that's the shore, but Aaron Doran does.

:44:27. > :44:35.The worrying thing for Hearts is it Inverness wins the header. Shaky so

:44:36. > :44:49.far for Hearts. Inverness have started really well.

:44:50. > :45:13.A decent run Hearts found themselves on.

:45:14. > :45:37.Watkins couldn't take advantage and you can hear the reaction of Hearts

:45:38. > :45:43.supporters. But in fairness, it was they who were in possession. I

:45:44. > :45:50.mean, they've got the choice to play on or not. They looked as if they

:45:51. > :45:54.were going to put it out. Maybe it should have been a free kick. I

:45:55. > :46:10.think it was Aaron Doran who decided, no, we're going to keep it.

:46:11. > :46:23.Sam Nicholson wins the free kick. He has been tortured soul, Gary Locke

:46:24. > :46:26.this season. He has struggled with his squad. He only has five

:46:27. > :46:50.substitutes today. Dylan McGowan's ball into the area.

:46:51. > :46:59.It is headed over. That was a lovely cross. It just needed a downward

:47:00. > :47:01.header from Dale Carrick. He could not get it onto the target. It was

:47:02. > :47:43.not far away. Both teams are struggling to hold

:47:44. > :48:24.onto the ball in the last minute so. There is another example of that.

:48:25. > :48:39.Another header won by Paterson. The flag is up on the far side. He has

:48:40. > :48:48.scored six times this season, Callum Paterson.

:48:49. > :48:56.Another offside decision. It is very scrappy. I think that is because of

:48:57. > :49:00.the good start. Let's hope that is the case. It was an excellent first

:49:01. > :49:37.12 minutes to this match. That was good play initially by

:49:38. > :49:48.Marley Watkins. He has drawn the free kick. He was under pressure,

:49:49. > :49:57.with four Hearts players around him. He certainly has the pace to trouble

:49:58. > :50:50.them. He is giving Kevin McHattie a hard time of it in this match.

:50:51. > :50:58.Already, you can see that the effort is there from both teams. The Hearts

:50:59. > :51:03.players are trying to get in amongst Caley Thistle. They are trying to

:51:04. > :51:04.force them into errors. Perhaps that is their best tactic against a

:51:05. > :51:33.well-organised Caley Thistle team. Jamie MacDonald looked like he had

:51:34. > :51:39.that covered. In the end, it is an Inverness corner. How costly will

:51:40. > :51:45.that be? I think that Wilson has got to deal with that. He has done the

:51:46. > :52:13.right thing. Get it out, ask questions later.

:52:14. > :52:25.Callum Paterson has taken a boot to the head. That is a sore one. It is

:52:26. > :52:36.a brilliant cross from Graeme Shinnie. Paterson takes one for the

:52:37. > :52:41.team. It is brave. He gets his team free kick in a vital area. Patterson

:52:42. > :53:43.is OK. You can get highlights of this

:53:44. > :53:48.semifinal and highlights of yesterday's semifinal, and

:53:49. > :54:04.highlights of yesterday's Premiership matches. That will be on

:54:05. > :54:28.Sportscene tonight. That is on BBC One Scotland.

:54:29. > :54:47.The Inverness players are frustrated.

:54:48. > :55:00.This is not for the faint-hearted. It is a good old-fashioned

:55:01. > :55:07.semifinal. It is tightly match. A few tackles are filing in. --

:55:08. > :55:30.tackles are firing in. Inverness have had composure so for

:55:31. > :55:41.any match. Hearts are nervous. I do not know if that is coming from the

:55:42. > :55:45.back four. Jamie Hamill wins the latest free kick against Greg

:55:46. > :55:52.Tansey. The ball over the top is causing problems. The goalkeeper

:55:53. > :56:33.comes and gets the ball, to be fair, but the back four are not sure.

:56:34. > :56:39.Until the victory against Ross County, Hearts only had one victory

:56:40. > :56:54.out of 19 in the league, against Aberdeen. You had Dylan McGowan

:56:55. > :57:01.yelping their as Calum Shinnie commits the latest foul. -- as

:57:02. > :57:33.Graeme Shinnie. That was difficult for the

:57:34. > :57:39.goalkeeper. That part of his area is bathed in sunshine. Robinson and

:57:40. > :57:49.Smith did well. Keep it in the cross. It was difficult in the

:57:50. > :57:59.sunlight. Hearts need to get the ball into the lives in the wide

:58:00. > :58:29.areas. That is Ryan Stevenson. He might have expected to start today.

:58:30. > :58:40.There is a shout for handball against Greg Tansey. Mickelson has

:58:41. > :58:49.pace to burn. For me, that is not a penalty. -- Nicholson has pace to

:58:50. > :59:20.burn. The atmosphere in yesterday's League

:59:21. > :59:28.Cup semifinal was terrific. Aberdeen reached their first final in 14

:59:29. > :59:57.years. Inverness would love the taste of the big cup final.

:59:58. > :00:06.Graeme Shinnie thought that was his ball. It has been evenly balanced in

:00:07. > :00:35.the last ten minutes. Hearts are starting to come into it.

:00:36. > :00:43.That was great play from Callum Paterson. It is a free kick. It is a

:00:44. > :00:48.shame for Hearts, because they had three players waiting in the middle.

:00:49. > :00:59.That was a good run by Dylan McGowan. Hearts have got to get

:01:00. > :01:04.their fullbacks higher up the pitch. The centre backs can deal with Billy

:01:05. > :01:26.McKay. That was good play from Paterson. Very direct.

:01:27. > :01:42.Callum Paterson in on the jump. There's going to be a few knocks and

:01:43. > :01:46.bruises in the wake of this game. Warren gets clattered over the top

:01:47. > :02:02.and Callum Paterson gets a free kick against him.

:02:03. > :02:21.Graeme Shinnie. He's got a free kick too. He may get a better angle here.

:02:22. > :02:37.Trying to hold him off. That's why the wreck has given it. -- the ref.

:02:38. > :02:45.Greg Tansey is the man over this. One of those where, if it goes in,

:02:46. > :03:07.it's a wonderful goal. 25 yards from goal here. He is eyeing it up.

:03:08. > :03:21.He doesn't even get it over the wall. He gets it passed it, but past

:03:22. > :03:35.the goal as well. It would have been dark, probably, when they left this

:03:36. > :03:41.morning. I'm sure a few of them had a bit of a night out in Edinburgh

:03:42. > :03:57.last night. Not the worst place in the world for that. Hearts zero,

:03:58. > :04:34.Thistle zero, a very even game, if you're joining us just now.

:04:35. > :04:46.Sam Nicholson, I think he sensed that was coming. It is a yellow card

:04:47. > :04:53.as well. Marley Watkins book. Watkins was quick, but that is a

:04:54. > :05:31.yellow. Good play by Nicholson. David Smith is over this free kick

:05:32. > :05:45.for Hearts. And that was always the danger. It is in the safe hands of

:05:46. > :06:01.Jamie MacDonald. All sorts of trouble. He launches it, you can see

:06:02. > :06:11.there. Brilliant from Jamie Hamill. A slip by McGowan. Just not sticking

:06:12. > :06:50.in this final third. That's going to be a yellow card as

:06:51. > :06:54.well, that's for Gary Warren. As I mentioned, some Inverness players

:06:55. > :06:59.were running a brisk this afternoon and Gary Warren is one of those. If

:07:00. > :07:24.Inverness make the final, he will not play.

:07:25. > :07:29.He was booked earlier on in the competition. It won't surprise you

:07:30. > :07:36.if you been following the competition. Gary Warren's other

:07:37. > :07:49.booking came against Dundee United in the past round. Gary Locke was

:07:50. > :07:58.watching right behind this. Scored against Saint Johnstone in that

:07:59. > :08:08.recent draw will stop Hearts have got better as the heart has

:08:09. > :08:20.progressed. -- as the game has progressed. They look as if they

:08:21. > :08:25.could cause problems. Ten minutes to the break. Nothing each and nothing

:08:26. > :09:03.between them. Now Graeme Shinnie fancies this. It

:09:04. > :11:33.is a Thistle corner. David Raven is one of the other

:11:34. > :11:55.Inverness players one booking away from missing the final. That was a

:11:56. > :12:00.foul by him as well. He's been a handful, Patterson. Not much to go

:12:01. > :12:13.with, but when he's got it, he looks the part. David Smith has to whip

:12:14. > :12:18.this into the box here. The goalkeeper came and missed it

:12:19. > :12:53.completely. Holds on, the second time of asking. Lucky boy.

:12:54. > :13:02.What a great ball, he's found Billy McKay. What a save that is. From

:13:03. > :13:13.Hearts Mr dependable, Jamie MacDonald. Wonderful goalkeeping

:13:14. > :13:25.again. It is Jamie MacDonald, the hero again. Great movement from

:13:26. > :13:32.Billy McKay I. A good clip from Draper. I tell you what,

:13:33. > :13:39.nonetheless, what a fine stop that was. John Hughes thought his team

:13:40. > :13:44.was in front there, and they would have been, but for Jamie MacDonald.

:13:45. > :13:48.Save after save after save after save against Hibernian in the

:13:49. > :13:57.quarterfinal. It was a astonishing display as Hearts won that game. But

:13:58. > :14:46.this semifinal remains goalless. Those two have looked sharp. A

:14:47. > :15:10.little reverse past. Unlucky again. He's had a couple

:15:11. > :16:00.against him, Callum Paterson. That was well read by McHattie.

:16:01. > :16:03.Inverness starting the match on the front foot. They are doing so again

:16:04. > :16:23.at the end of the first half. Watkins was outmuscled there. To

:16:24. > :16:32.Robinson. It's 11-10 in fouls to Callie Thistle. It has been

:16:33. > :16:37.stop-start, really. It has. I think that is to do with the players'

:16:38. > :16:42.mentality. I said if they don't get an early goal, players might start

:16:43. > :16:47.thinking about it being a tense occasion. That plays its part. As I

:16:48. > :16:52.said, there will be drama at some point in this one. There has to be.

:16:53. > :16:57.We need a decision today. Extra time and penalties if needed. That's what

:16:58. > :17:06.we needed between the teams last season. This is McKay. This is

:17:07. > :17:11.promising. He's got options as well. A little reverse to Doran, pass out

:17:12. > :17:13.wide to Watkins, but he is only thinking one thing. That strike was

:17:14. > :17:28.not too far away. 18 this season. He scored 27 last

:17:29. > :17:32.season. He has been such a talisman for Callie Thistle. He is here at

:17:33. > :17:35.least until the end of this season, the transfer window shutting Friday

:17:36. > :17:44.past. That is half-time. No injury-time at

:17:45. > :17:52.the end of the first half. It's been eventful. It's not been a classic.

:17:53. > :18:03.Ross Draper had an early chance for Inverness. Then Sam Nicholson, with

:18:04. > :18:06.Hearts' best opportunity. Billy McKay with a wonderful chance

:18:07. > :18:12.towards the end of the opening 45. What a save from Jamie MacDonald.

:18:13. > :18:16.The guys will dissect that, I'm sure. John Hughes thought Callie

:18:17. > :18:23.Thistle were going ahead at that point. At half-time, it is Heart of

:18:24. > :18:28.Midlothian 0 - Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0.

:18:29. > :18:41.STUDIO: We are not much closer to knowing who will line up against

:18:42. > :18:45.Aberdeen to play for the League Cup. Let's get the view of my guests.

:18:46. > :18:55.Your team started well. They should have hit the front. It's probably

:18:56. > :19:00.got to an even stage? Yes, to be fair to Hearts, they came back into

:19:01. > :19:03.the game. They had a wee half chance themselves, the penalty claim and

:19:04. > :19:09.Billy has the real chance of the half where he will feel he should

:19:10. > :19:13.have scored. It is one of these games where, if you get these

:19:14. > :19:19.chances, and you don't score, will it not be your day? We are looking

:19:20. > :19:24.strong. Do you feel as if Hearts have a foothold in the semifinal?

:19:25. > :19:28.Inverness had the better of the opening part of that first half.

:19:29. > :19:33.Hearts came back into it. They had a couple of wee opportunities there.

:19:34. > :19:37.At the end, Inverness had a shot from Billy McKay. Hearts will be

:19:38. > :19:42.more optimistic after the second half of that half there, that they

:19:43. > :19:50.managed to get more of a foothold in that game. The chances were coming

:19:51. > :19:53.thick and fast. This was Ross Draper. Should he have gone on the

:19:54. > :19:58.left foot? I thought so. A bat mistake from the Hearts' defender.

:19:59. > :20:05.If he lets it run across his body, he will still get to the ball before

:20:06. > :20:10.the full-back. It was a bad mistake. We were talking about last year when

:20:11. > :20:14.Billy McKay was on the end of a pass that was a wee bit too heavy. That

:20:15. > :20:21.was fine and Draper has to do better. Yes. That was Doran with an

:20:22. > :20:25.effort. It is underlining that, at that stage of the game, the play was

:20:26. > :20:34.flowing in one direction. Yes. The problem we have got, Rob, other

:20:35. > :20:40.players need to chip in with a few more goals. Billy is our top scorer,

:20:41. > :20:44.which is great, but it is important somebody else chips in. You see that

:20:45. > :20:50.one, that last opportunity there from a set-piece, that's really poor

:20:51. > :20:54.from a Hearts' perspective. You can't allow Inverness to be given

:20:55. > :20:58.that much space inside. It was almost the six yard box. That would

:20:59. > :21:03.be concerning for the management team. You were concerned about

:21:04. > :21:08.Hearts' vowel inneribility at the back from -- vulnerability at the

:21:09. > :21:12.back from set-pieces? Danny Wilson with a slack backpass to the

:21:13. > :21:18.goalkeeper that Billy McKay gets on to. Danny is very nice on the ball.

:21:19. > :21:22.At times, his concentration can be better. Those lapses of

:21:23. > :21:28.concentration - and that was almost punished. How is the Inverness team

:21:29. > :21:34.selection working out? We spoke about it at pre-match? How is it

:21:35. > :21:39.panning out now? John has picked a team with an eye on set plays. He's

:21:40. > :21:43.probably been proved right. We have caused Hearts problems. We look a

:21:44. > :21:49.threat. I think he probably realised we are going to get a lot of corners

:21:50. > :21:58.with Doran and Watkins in behind the full-backs. So, I think we have

:21:59. > :22:04.lacked a bit of guile at times. We have had plenty of the ball 50 yards

:22:05. > :22:09.from goal. Apart from Billy, we want more from one or two others. This

:22:10. > :22:13.Carrick header came from Hearts' first attack. It was quite a long

:22:14. > :22:18.time coming? It was a good bit of play. It's a good cross from

:22:19. > :22:22.McGowan. Carrick has space there. He could do better. You have to test

:22:23. > :22:32.the goalkeeper and get it on target at least. As you said, that was a

:22:33. > :22:36.fair bit into the game before Hearts had their first effort. We will key

:22:37. > :22:39.that coming in. It is Vincent that is not tight enough with Carrick.

:22:40. > :22:45.That is a good opportunity. You have to get the goalkeeper working there.

:22:46. > :22:49.This was Sam Nicholson with a fierce strike. These are the moments that

:22:50. > :22:52.might give Hearts a lift? Yes, especially young players. They need

:22:53. > :22:56.to find their feet in a game. It will give them a lift. It will give

:22:57. > :23:03.them more confidence. That is what we have seen. That's what Inverness

:23:04. > :23:09.don't want to encourage? Yes, they want to maintain that upper hand and

:23:10. > :23:13.almost suffocate the Hearts team. As Charlie says, the youngsters need a

:23:14. > :23:17.bit of confidence and with those three incidents - Carrick - I know

:23:18. > :23:22.he didn't hit the target - but it was more momentum towards the

:23:23. > :23:28.Inverness goal - and Sam Nicholson, he cut in off the left-hand side and

:23:29. > :23:32.had a good shot. If he had found the corner, it would have worked the

:23:33. > :23:35.goalkeeper more. The ball was moving a fair bit. That gives the

:23:36. > :23:39.youngsters the confidence to get on the front foot and attack Inverness

:23:40. > :23:44.more. It was a first half not awash with goalscoring chances, so that

:23:45. > :23:48.explains why people were getting overexcited about this penalty

:23:49. > :23:55.appeal. It was not a penalty. We didn't think so. It would be harsh

:23:56. > :23:58.to give a spot kick for that. It does strike Tansey's arm. His arm is

:23:59. > :24:08.by his side. It was the correct decision. No penalty, no surprise.

:24:09. > :24:13.But this was the chance of the half, wasn't it? It's one that most of us

:24:14. > :24:18.would be putting our money on Billy McKay taking? It was good movement

:24:19. > :24:24.from Billy McKay. Once he is in, look at this, he steps across the

:24:25. > :24:28.defender well, but he's got to put that in. Somebody like Billy McKay,

:24:29. > :24:33.you would expect him to do that. It was too much straight at Jamie

:24:34. > :24:37.MacDonald. It was a good save. If Billy McKay had done what you

:24:38. > :24:42.expected him to do, the goalkeeper would never have had a chance. He

:24:43. > :24:46.was fouled early on by Scott Robinson, a challenge which produced

:24:47. > :24:49.a yellow cashed. We hear that John Hughes is going bananas that this

:24:50. > :24:57.was not a red card for Robinson. What do you reckon? At the time, I

:24:58. > :25:00.didn't think it was a red card. Maybe now I have seen it a second

:25:01. > :25:08.time - it shows you when you see it in a replay, it is a bit nasty. John

:25:09. > :25:13.Hughes had a good view. Absolutely. It is one of these that could cause

:25:14. > :25:17.injury. Sometimes Scott Robinson, he gets a bit caught up in those sort

:25:18. > :25:23.of things, trying to put in tackles at times where he doesn't need to.

:25:24. > :25:28.That's one incident there where he almost doesn't need to do that

:25:29. > :25:33.there. Billy McKay is not going anywhere on the touchline. I think

:25:34. > :25:37.it is better for everybody that there is 11 men on the pitch. You

:25:38. > :25:41.are running the risk when you go in - and you could argue it was over

:25:42. > :25:47.the ball. For the betterment of the game, I'm glad everybody has 11 men.

:25:48. > :25:51.A really costly yellow card in that first half, if Inverness Caledonian

:25:52. > :25:57.Thistle get to the final, Gary Warren will miss out? A massive blow

:25:58. > :26:01.for Gary. He is a terrific guy. He took the decision to come up north

:26:02. > :26:09.and play in the SPL. He's been a terrific signing and a really good

:26:10. > :26:14.guy. It is a massive blow. It's a ridiculous rule. The guys that make

:26:15. > :26:17.some of these rules have to sit down and reflect and for a boy for two

:26:18. > :26:21.yellow cards and you see some of the tackles that go about Scottish

:26:22. > :26:25.football these days, for a boy to miss out on perhaps his only ever

:26:26. > :26:32.final would be a dreadful decision. In case you haven't seen the four

:26:33. > :26:37.goals from yesterday - and just as an excuse for us to look at some

:26:38. > :26:45.goals - let's look at what Aberdeen did to St Johnstone yesterday. It

:26:46. > :26:50.all started with that miskick from Steve Banks and Aberdeen were ahead.

:26:51. > :26:58.Yes. When you watch that again, it's three mistakes and one goal for St

:26:59. > :27:02.Johnstone. Banks' mis-hit, Wright has missed the flight of it and

:27:03. > :27:06.Anderson has left it at the far post. They will be disappointed to

:27:07. > :27:11.be 1-0 down. Steve Banks is more of a coach than a player. You can start

:27:12. > :27:16.to see there, he is 40 now, his movement is a bit slower. But Steve

:27:17. > :27:22.Banks was a top drawer goalkeeper in his day. I have played with him. I

:27:23. > :27:26.think this was one game too many for him. I would argue this one, there

:27:27. > :27:33.is not much he could do about that one. Jonny Hayes was back to his

:27:34. > :27:40.best yesterday. Great player. Great for Inverness. A real character in

:27:41. > :27:44.the changing room. Yesterday shows that there is real quality. The word

:27:45. > :27:48.that comes to mind, having seen that, was clinical? I don't think it

:27:49. > :27:53.was the complete performance over the 90 minutes. But when they had

:27:54. > :27:58.chances, they took them? A lot has been made of the resurgence of

:27:59. > :28:04.Aberdeen this year. A lot of it has been down to the players Derek

:28:05. > :28:07.McInnes has brought in. They want to win the game. I love seeing that.

:28:08. > :28:11.People that are going to do whatever it takes to get them over that line

:28:12. > :28:16.and get yourself into a Cup Final. That's changing the mentality.

:28:17. > :28:19.Aberdeen would have gone into that game with trepidation, but getting

:28:20. > :28:23.goals at the right time and having those characters in your team, that

:28:24. > :28:27.is what changes you from losing semifinals to winning and,

:28:28. > :28:30.ultimately, regardless of who wins this today, Aberdeen will be lifting

:28:31. > :28:36.the trophy. Most of the trepidation would have centred around Stevie May

:28:37. > :28:39.and the fact we are not speaking about him today probably speaks

:28:40. > :28:44.volumes about the quality of Aberdeen? Yes, which I think they

:28:45. > :28:49.are better team on the front foot, Aberdeen. Derek McInnes will be the

:28:50. > :28:54.first to say that, too. If you keep Stevie May quiet, you have done half

:28:55. > :29:01.of the job. He had a very quiet day yesterday. He's a wee bit like

:29:02. > :29:05.Billy, if Stevie doesn't score, who else is going to get the goals?

:29:06. > :29:09.Aberdeen become favourites. I'm not necessarily saying they will win it.

:29:10. > :29:12.I like about the balance of the team. The mix of experience, hungry

:29:13. > :29:18.players, youth players coming through the system and real winners.

:29:19. > :29:22.He's got a tremendous balance. We mentioned Derek McInnes. He is in

:29:23. > :29:28.the studio with us tonight as we reflect on the League Cup semifinal

:29:29. > :29:35.weekend and also the two games in the Premiership from yesterday.

:29:36. > :29:42.Back to the match which concerns us here, it is goalless at half-time.

:29:43. > :29:52.They are competing to play against Aberdeen in the final in six weeks'

:29:53. > :29:57.time. The word from downstairs is Ryan Stevenson enters the fray. I

:29:58. > :30:01.don't know if it is an injury, we saw David Smith go into a block

:30:02. > :30:06.tackle. I would suggest it is an injury because he has been a good -

:30:07. > :30:10.he's been in a good vein of form. He wouldn't be the one you would

:30:11. > :30:16.withdraw? No. Potentially, that is maybe a knock that he's picked up.

:30:17. > :30:22.How does that change the complexion? It gives an added physicality to

:30:23. > :30:27.Hearts' play going forward. #6 Ryan is more capable of dropping off the

:30:28. > :30:32.game a wee bit, picking the ball up and as we saw in the derby match, he

:30:33. > :30:36.will have a strike from outside the box without doubt. Hearts will take

:30:37. > :30:41.a boost from the fact that the momentum of the match has swung from

:30:42. > :30:45.that early 10 or 15 minutes when it was all about Callie Thistle and

:30:46. > :30:49.it's - they are much more in it now? They definitely are. Equally,

:30:50. > :30:53.Inverness will take heart from the fact that in the last couple of

:30:54. > :30:58.opportunities of that half, Billy McKay had a couple of shots and they

:30:59. > :31:03.managed to get their authority back. We spoke about it earlier, that the

:31:04. > :31:07.young players need that bit of confidence. They are very fragile

:31:08. > :31:09.and after the first 25 minutes, they would have been a bit nervous of

:31:10. > :31:13.what was happening here. They managed to get themselves back in

:31:14. > :31:19.and get a foothold and I am sure in the changing room there will be a

:31:20. > :31:24.lot more confidence. This was the closest thing to a goal in the first

:31:25. > :31:28.half here at Easter Road. Almost on the half-time interval as well.

:31:29. > :31:32.Billy McKay sneaked in behind and you expected him to tuck this chance

:31:33. > :31:36.away. You would have to give big credit to Jamie MacDonald for making

:31:37. > :31:40.that save, even though in this sort of situation, we are so used to

:31:41. > :31:44.seeing Billy McKay hitting the target. So, still goalless at

:31:45. > :31:49.half-time. How is Billy McKay affected by missing chances? Or does

:31:50. > :31:54.he come back for more? No. What has been noticeable - talking to a few

:31:55. > :31:58.of the lads last week - in the last couple of months, these chances are

:31:59. > :32:03.not going in for Billy. He's scored a lot of goals in a short period. I

:32:04. > :32:15.think that if he keeps that one on the deck, it is a goal. You have to

:32:16. > :32:20.credit the goalkeeper there. He is a type of guy - and it wouldn't bother

:32:21. > :32:26.him. We return now to second half action in the League Cup semifinal -

:32:27. > :32:29.Hearts against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Back to the commentary

:32:30. > :32:34.team. COMMENTARY: Will we go all the way

:32:35. > :32:39.through extra time and penalties, if necessary? The 30th meeting between

:32:40. > :32:44.Hearts and Inverness. Hearts have won 11, Callie Thistle 8. There have

:32:45. > :32:48.been 10 draws. Apart from the penalty shoot-out win last January,

:32:49. > :32:53.Hearts haven't beaten Callie Thistle since November 2011. A 2-1 win at

:32:54. > :33:05.Tynecastle. Inverness with seven survivors from

:33:06. > :33:13.the side that lost the semifinal to Hearts last year.

:33:14. > :33:19.Three in the Hearts line-up who played from the start against

:33:20. > :33:26.Inverness in the semifinal last year.

:33:27. > :33:33.Just looking at Hearts, the way they would go. I thought they would match

:33:34. > :33:40.Inverness in midfield. They haven't. They have put Paterson on the

:33:41. > :33:45.right-hand side. Ryan Stevenson is right up front. The front two - they

:33:46. > :33:53.keep the 4-4-2. McKay has found Watkins. Wilson clears.

:33:54. > :34:00.The referee is not giving Hearts a free-kick, though. Callie Thistle

:34:01. > :34:07.will play on. You do normally see that kind of thing as a foul.

:34:08. > :34:10.Watkins. Inverness fans behind Jamie MacDonald's goal, they were shouting

:34:11. > :34:15.for a penalty! They didn't get the decision in the first half. John

:34:16. > :34:27.Beaton disagreed. Callum Paterson has moved over to

:34:28. > :34:36.the right-hand side of the Hearts midfield to allow Ryan Stevenson to

:34:37. > :34:40.go up with Dale Carrick. He's won his side the first corner of the

:34:41. > :34:44.second half. I thought it was a free-kick. Must have got a bit of

:34:45. > :34:52.the ball. Watkins' pace is causing them problems. But they give away a

:34:53. > :34:54.corner. Doran to take. The ones he took in the first half were not his

:34:55. > :35:08.best. That was better. Flicked off the

:35:09. > :35:15.head of Meekings. Shinnie. Another corner.

:35:16. > :35:41.Vincent. Plays it back to him. The former Blackburn man. That's a big

:35:42. > :35:48.shout for a penalty there as well. Nothing doing once more. They can't

:35:49. > :35:54.believe that. Gary Warren went down in the box there very awkwardly.

:35:55. > :36:11.Another sense of injustice. Warren will miss the final if Inverness

:36:12. > :36:21.Caledonian Thistle get there. No takers in blue. Shinnie. Draper.

:36:22. > :36:25.They are knocking it about quite well just now, Inverness.

:36:26. > :36:35.They have started this second half the way they started the first.

:36:36. > :36:39.Doran worked it into the back post for the penalty claim. I thought he

:36:40. > :36:41.was already on the way down, that was my first impression. We will get

:36:42. > :37:22.a look, maybe. Robinson. The Hearts legend is in front of the

:37:23. > :37:26.stands and he's just taken his seat. That was theatrical, looking at that

:37:27. > :37:31.again. Hearts didn't get one in the first half. Not for me again. He

:37:32. > :37:41.made a lot of it. There he is. He was nearly a Hearts player again

:37:42. > :37:44.Friday past. He is a free agent. The transfer embargo looks as though it

:37:45. > :37:48.is going to be lifted later in the season. Hearts waiting on that news

:37:49. > :37:52.from Lithuania, the official confirmation, the foundation of

:37:53. > :37:56.Hearts, the supporters' group who are the preferred bidder for the

:37:57. > :38:03.club, the future owners, it seems, are hoping for good news on that

:38:04. > :38:04.front in the next few weeks. The transfer embargo will be lifted once

:38:05. > :38:19.the club are out of administration. Here comical Callie Thistle. Still

:38:20. > :38:24.they push forward. -- here come Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Still

:38:25. > :38:30.they push forward. This is Shinnie. Great run from Graeme Shinnie.

:38:31. > :39:11.That's a long ball for Carrick to chase.

:39:12. > :39:25.Stevenson has three goals this season. Paterson has a long throw on

:39:26. > :40:04.him. Watkins struggling to see where the

:40:05. > :40:10.ball was there. Draper. Watkins again. It might fall to Draper. A

:40:11. > :40:14.little bit too far in front of him there. He was trying to get that on

:40:15. > :40:18.his left foot, which he should have used in the first half early on.

:40:19. > :40:29.That's Raven. Hearts are having to hang in again.

:40:30. > :40:33.Draper did ever so well. He held it up, he waited, a great weight of

:40:34. > :41:01.pass and nearly got on the end of it.

:41:02. > :41:07.Tansey couldn't resist it! Little wonder when you can do that! A

:41:08. > :41:12.wonderful strike. Hearts go to the referee because they wanted a

:41:13. > :41:16.free-kick for handball. MacDonald has been booked as well. Callie

:41:17. > :41:21.Thistle don't care about that. Greg Tansey with a thunderbolt that could

:41:22. > :41:25.take them through to their first major Cup Final! What a goal! You

:41:26. > :41:31.don't strike them better than that. It reminds me of the Ryan Stevenson

:41:32. > :41:36.goal against Hibs here. The same sort of shot. Power, pace,

:41:37. > :41:42.precision. All in the one. A bit lucky with the clearance. A claim

:41:43. > :41:49.for the handball. What can you do about this? No chance for MacDonald.

:41:50. > :42:07.Stunning from Greg Tansey! That is genius!

:42:08. > :42:13.There was a big shout from John Beaton who is coming over to speak

:42:14. > :42:17.to the fourth official. I think someone in the Hearts technical

:42:18. > :42:25.staff has had a little too much to say here. Gary Locke is there. The

:42:26. > :42:29.goalkeeper coach as well. It's a warning for him. Hearts are

:42:30. > :42:35.absolutely raging about the decision that wasn't given. The one that John

:42:36. > :42:42.Beaton took. They felt there was a hand bhal. No doubt, it -- Handball.

:42:43. > :42:48.No doubt, it struck a hand. Was it Robinson who tried to clear it? He

:42:49. > :42:52.comes off Doran's hand. It was really close to call that one a

:42:53. > :42:57.handball. It was just blasted against him. Let's forget about the

:42:58. > :43:02.handball. What about the strike? We will have a look at it. How unlucky.

:43:03. > :43:07.What can he do there? I think that would have been really harsh. What

:43:08. > :43:20.about Tansey's strike? Absolute perfection. Artistry from Greg

:43:21. > :43:26.Tansey and that has given Callie Thistle the initiative. This kind of

:43:27. > :43:29.game, it was almost going to be something like that that was needed

:43:30. > :43:35.to break the deadlock, something that was going to fire the match and

:43:36. > :43:38.light the blue touch paper. Hearts came from behind to beat St Mirren

:43:39. > :43:42.in midweek. They have to come from behind again to keep their League

:43:43. > :43:46.Cup Final dream alive. As things stand, it will be Aberdeen against

:43:47. > :43:53.John Hughes' Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

:43:54. > :44:06.Two different players in their day, there, it has to be said. Yes, just

:44:07. > :44:09.a bit. John used to win it and give it to Russell to go and play. That

:44:10. > :44:13.is how it was. They loved a night out. He knows his job as well. That

:44:14. > :44:17.is why he brought him to the club. There is a long way to go, though.

:44:18. > :44:22.Hearts have that bit about them. They will keep going about it. They

:44:23. > :44:33.will work their socks off and they are not out of this just yet.

:44:34. > :44:40.Russell Lafferty loved his time at Hibernian. The decision goes against

:44:41. > :44:45.Hearts again. A real sense of grievance from the maroon half of

:44:46. > :44:51.Edinburgh. That is where John Beaton has to let it flow. I don't think

:44:52. > :44:55.that is a free-kick again. He is blowing for everything now. He has

:44:56. > :45:01.to calm things down and let the game flow a bit.

:45:02. > :45:08.Greg Tansey scored five times in his first spell at Callie Thistle. This

:45:09. > :45:13.is his second appearance in his second spell. He was away at

:45:14. > :45:16.Stevenage for a while. He has signed an 18-month contract and he has

:45:17. > :45:23.already rewarded the club for showing their faith in him with

:45:24. > :45:26.that. What a strike! If you want to get it pure, that is the way to do

:45:27. > :45:30.it. You don't catch it any better than that.

:45:31. > :45:49.So, Billy, Gary Locke, what is he thinking now? He will leave it for a

:45:50. > :45:53.little while yet. It will be running through his mind, of course. They

:45:54. > :45:57.have to make sure they don't lose another one too quickly. They need

:45:58. > :46:01.to keep it to one because they will fashion out a chance, Hearts, it

:46:02. > :46:07.will be whether they can take it or not. Paterson gave them a good

:46:08. > :46:10.presence up front in the first half. He is on the right side of the field

:46:11. > :46:16.in the second. Doran with the early ball looking for McKay. It might

:46:17. > :46:24.come to McKay here. He needs support. He gets it from Watkins.

:46:25. > :46:27.Hearts are all over the place at the back right now. They need to calm

:46:28. > :46:46.down. Vincent was inches away from getting

:46:47. > :46:49.a connection to put them 2-0 up. Hearts got the decision here. But

:46:50. > :47:06.the supporters were wanting more. Nicholson is brought down, John

:47:07. > :47:11.Beaton taking centre stage today. He has got a few right, but there

:47:12. > :47:14.are a lot of petulant once he could have let go and let the game flow.

:47:15. > :47:18.He has blown too much for my thinking.

:47:19. > :47:29.Good ball for Doran. Aaron Doran is on his own and had to go for goal

:47:30. > :47:32.himself. Hearts have to open up no, Inverness

:47:33. > :47:52.or finding space. -- are finding Inverness have one foot in a League

:47:53. > :48:00.Cup final, Aberdeen are already there, sitting with their feet up.

:48:01. > :48:14.They cannot afford to go 2-0 down. Inverness are bossing it right now.

:48:15. > :48:19.John Hughes played in only cup final for Ayr United. -- interleague cup

:48:20. > :48:33.final. -- in the a League Cup final. Stephenson draws the free kick for

:48:34. > :48:52.Hearts. -- Stevenson. He was a Hibs manager

:48:53. > :49:08.as well, of course, John Hughes. Very much a Hibee.

:49:09. > :49:14.McGowan -- Stevenson has not seen much of the ball since coming on at

:49:15. > :49:26.half-time. We want some magic from him. That wasn't bad, was at?

:49:27. > :49:33.Picked up by the man whose goal separates the teams, Tansey. It will

:49:34. > :49:45.come to Callum Paterson year. A chance to level! Again! And Raven in

:49:46. > :49:49.the right place at the right time. You could see that developing, the

:49:50. > :49:56.players just clash, then it comes to Paterson, he stands up ever so well,

:49:57. > :50:04.Raven does what all good defenders do and gets it off the line. An

:50:05. > :50:08.excellent opportunity to equalise. But as good and as important as safe

:50:09. > :50:21.as the Jamie MacDonald one in the first half. -- as important a says.

:50:22. > :50:29.-- save. It is disappointing for Hearts,

:50:30. > :50:34.there will be a substitution. They were alleged to bring in a new face

:50:35. > :50:45.during the transfer window, Adam King leaving to go to Swansea. They

:50:46. > :50:51.will bring on McCallum, on loan from West Ham. All six foot three of him.

:50:52. > :51:01.He was a hero against Inverness last year in the semifinal here, and

:51:02. > :51:07.there is still plenty of time, albeit we are into the final third

:51:08. > :51:10.of the 90 minutes. A change will be made now.

:51:11. > :51:23.Dylan McGowan is off and Paul McCallum is on. He has been most

:51:24. > :51:26.recently on loan at Torquay, where he scored three goals in six

:51:27. > :51:31.appearances for them. A chance to see what he can do.

:51:32. > :51:39.Talking about fashioning a chance, he did so with Paterson. He now

:51:40. > :51:43.finds himself at), started as a striker. -- he finds himself at

:51:44. > :51:56.right back. And the roar from the Hearts

:51:57. > :52:11.support, as well. So much to gain, so much to losing

:52:12. > :52:16.semifinals. Headed away by Shinnie and the counter is on.

:52:17. > :52:42.He is unlucky, Paterson, he certainly did enough. I tell you

:52:43. > :52:50.what, he has done a shift today, hasn't he? Just because of his pace

:52:51. > :52:58.and the way he has put himself about, causing problems, then got

:52:59. > :53:02.that glorious chance to equalise. That is a free kick right on the

:53:03. > :53:10.edge of the box. The card is out, as well. It is a second yellow for

:53:11. > :53:16.Warren. Caley Thistle are down to ten men, a shot in the arm for

:53:17. > :53:22.Hearts. A wonderful free kick opportunity, as well. Well, how

:53:23. > :53:29.games can change. Mickelson gets himself to within

:53:30. > :53:36.about making yards. Warren does give him a little town on the jersey.

:53:37. > :53:49.Whether it is worth a yellow... It is a free kick, no doubt, but

:53:50. > :53:52.sending off? Do me a favour. John Hughes is trying to calm Danny

:53:53. > :53:56.Warren down as he heads up the tide as Micro up the tunnel. We would be

:53:57. > :54:00.seeing him again, we were not going to be seeing him in the final

:54:01. > :54:07.anyway. At now, the final 24 minutes, Hearts have a one-man

:54:08. > :54:14.advantage, they are a goal down. Kevin McHattie has a wonderful left

:54:15. > :54:16.foot on him. That looks what -- like what they are shaping up for you.

:54:17. > :54:29.Hearts looking for a leveller. It is deflected in! The free kick

:54:30. > :54:38.works, and Jamie Hamill levels this League Cup semifinal. It is game on!

:54:39. > :54:44.It was well worked. They were thinking all day long that

:54:45. > :54:49.McHattie would just shift it, but Hamill just spins it. Well, they

:54:50. > :54:56.have deserved a bit of luck, they get it. The deflection carries it

:54:57. > :55:02.past Brill. It just falls in the far corner and now Inverness, from

:55:03. > :55:06.nowhere, are right up against it. Quick as a flash, this tide has

:55:07. > :55:13.turned. A massive chunk of Fortuna on that one.

:55:14. > :55:17.-- chunk of fortune. Hearts don't care.

:55:18. > :55:26.Inverness are making a change, they will be bringing on Devine. John

:55:27. > :55:31.Hughes cannot believe it. His team, pretty much in charge at that point,

:55:32. > :55:38.Hearts were getting more into it. They brought on their new signing.

:55:39. > :55:41.He was involved in the build-up that led to the free kick, as well. He

:55:42. > :55:46.was. As much as I don't think it was a

:55:47. > :55:51.sending off, Hearts have been doing a job. They have had a few decisions

:55:52. > :55:54.go against them today, but they got fortunate for that one. I tell you

:55:55. > :56:05.what, they took full advantage. You would think now heavy favourites, 11

:56:06. > :56:09.against ten. Warren will be taken off to be

:56:10. > :56:14.replaced by Danny Devine, the 25-year-old from Belfast. He will

:56:15. > :56:18.slot into the defence. It is a decision he was forced to make

:56:19. > :56:23.because of Gary Warren's sending off and it is double jeopardy for

:56:24. > :56:28.Inverness after that goal going in. It looked like they were setting up

:56:29. > :56:38.for McHattie to blast it from the -- in the goal. It skipped back off

:56:39. > :56:39.Draper. Another free kick here. It is beginning to unravel for the

:56:40. > :56:49.islanders. -- highlanders. They should be said -- taking their

:56:50. > :57:05.time, setting it up. We are where we were last year. 1-1,

:57:06. > :57:15.a sending off, a couple of sitters missed. One in particular.

:57:16. > :57:21.Hamill takes the free kick again! He has scored again! What a turnaround

:57:22. > :57:30.at Easter Road. Inverness's dream is slipping away from them. Our Hearts

:57:31. > :57:36.heading back to our cup final? They have come back from 1-0 down.

:57:37. > :57:40.Well, we have seen to absolutely brilliant goals here. I tell you, as

:57:41. > :57:44.much as the first one was a bit fortunate with the deflection, no

:57:45. > :57:50.fluke about that, that is magnificent from Hamill. He is a

:57:51. > :57:55.left foot but what is it with the right. Brilliant, son.

:57:56. > :58:14.What a finish from Hamill. Ryan Stevenson I think has been

:58:15. > :58:18.booked in the wake of all, as Barry Locke celebrates with Hamill. One of

:58:19. > :58:29.the elder statesman at Tynecastle has come up with a double. And now

:58:30. > :58:30.it is the have one foot in next week's League Cup final against

:58:31. > :58:52.Aberdeen. -- now it is the. -- they. Confirmation that Ryan Stevenson was

:58:53. > :58:59.booked. That was for his part in the celebrations. Just the one Hearts

:59:00. > :59:01.running the risk of missing the final if they get there, and that is

:59:02. > :59:16.Danny Wilson. It really is so sharp. The movement

:59:17. > :59:18.over the two or three yards there was excellent. Just can't get the

:59:19. > :59:34.purchase on the header. McCallum looks a decent prospect for

:59:35. > :59:49.Hearts, we have only seen him for about five minutes.

:59:50. > :59:53.Paterson has gotten himself into trouble. He has played just about

:59:54. > :00:03.every position today apart from goalkeeper.

:00:04. > :00:16.Less than three minutes between the two Hearts calls, the two free

:00:17. > :00:24.kicks. Two minutes 49 seconds is what it took for Hearts to turn this

:00:25. > :01:02.match on its head. It promises to be a very intriguing final 18 minutes.

:01:03. > :01:11.It has been a really good second half, hasn't it? Hearts still go at

:01:12. > :01:15.it, get the equaliser, get themselves in front, and Inverness

:01:16. > :01:19.down to ten men. Now they are having a go with the corner kick. Zipped

:01:20. > :01:24.into the box! And unbelievable save from Jamie

:01:25. > :01:30.MacDonald, this time to deny Meekings.

:01:31. > :01:38.Set pieces play a big part. John Hughes gets the run, Meekings, it is

:01:39. > :01:42.a bullet header, he does ever so well to get it over the top. That

:01:43. > :01:49.looked like it was flying into the net.

:01:50. > :01:58.Another Inverness corner. Can he keep it alive here? Draper's effort

:01:59. > :02:16.blocked. The Hearts enjoyed that from the new

:02:17. > :03:13.boy, McCallum. McKay wanted it, played in front of

:03:14. > :03:26.him, as well. Esson pulled off an excellent save just before the

:03:27. > :03:33.Hearts onslaught. -- Brill. At the start of the second half Hearts were

:03:34. > :03:40.swimming against the time, Billy. Well, you never know in this game.

:03:41. > :03:46.And Gary Locke is smiling because of this from Jamie Hamill.

:03:47. > :03:57.You can see where Ryan Stevenson was booked, as well. There you go,

:03:58. > :04:11.guilty as charged. Jamie Hamill, two for 214 one, it is 2-1 to the

:04:12. > :04:17.Jambos. -- two for him. Two for Hearts.

:04:18. > :04:28.There wasn't much in the first-half but in the second half we seen two

:04:29. > :04:35.absolute howitzers. Gary Locke with his arms folded, he

:04:36. > :04:44.took Hearts out last year in the semifinal, they lost to St Mirren.

:04:45. > :04:48.This is why we have a stoppage now. Callum Paterson has been in the wars

:04:49. > :05:00.today. John Hughes can't believe it, Billy,

:05:01. > :05:05.can he? Yes, he must be thinking, cruise

:05:06. > :05:13.control, doing really well, then the sending-off makes a game of it. He

:05:14. > :05:20.is trying to get numbers forward from midfield. Ross still on the

:05:21. > :05:31.bench for Inverness. Inverness did lose their last game

:05:32. > :05:44.in the Premiership, against command.

:05:45. > :05:55.Just one win in 19 games for Hearts in the league. They had that

:05:56. > :05:56.controversial draw against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park couple

:05:57. > :06:08.of weeks ago. 16 points adrift at the bottom of

:06:09. > :06:11.the Premiership, moving well into the second half of the season,

:06:12. > :06:40.Hearts. Vincent had that pinched off him by

:06:41. > :06:58.Hamill. 12,762 in Easter Road today. A lot

:06:59. > :07:04.of glum highlander faces behind Jamie MacDonald's goal. And no

:07:05. > :07:07.wonder. They were reasonably comfortable and it completely

:07:08. > :07:11.changed in the space of less than three minutes. Inverness have it all

:07:12. > :07:31.to do moving into the final. I am just wondering what will do. --

:07:32. > :07:35.what Hearts will do. Maybe just every time Inverness get the ball,

:07:36. > :07:51.carry it off. Jamie Hamill would love to reach the

:07:52. > :07:56.final, obviously, but in particular he missed the Scottish Cup final

:07:57. > :08:02.when they were with Hibs, he missed the League Cup final last season

:08:03. > :08:11.with that audible cruciate -- horrible cruciate injury he had that

:08:12. > :08:15.kept him out for so long. Big redemption for him if things stay

:08:16. > :08:22.the way they are. Inverness still have time, though.

:08:23. > :08:45.Tansey is over this. Everyone bar Dean Brill, the goalkeeper, is

:08:46. > :08:49.inside the territory for this. Still alive, still a chance. Watkins

:08:50. > :09:16.didn't know where the ball was. Both managers casting their eyes

:09:17. > :09:22.over the pitch. The crowd cheer, because they will get the decision.

:09:23. > :09:26.They feel a few decisions have gone against them today. John Hughes, I

:09:27. > :09:32.am sure, will have a grievance about the red card shown to Gary Warren.

:09:33. > :09:39.Booked in the first half, but in the second, sent off. It is a big call

:09:40. > :09:52.from John begin. He is a former centre half himself. -- John

:09:53. > :10:00.Peterson. -- Beaton. Ryan Stevenson had that nicked away from him,

:10:01. > :10:05.Nicholson is on the deck. He is making a big impression on the

:10:06. > :10:13.Hearts after his debut back in August. This is the incident I was

:10:14. > :10:23.talking about. It is actually two players there, Watkins and Warren,

:10:24. > :10:27.and who gets the file? But there was no luck about this

:10:28. > :10:32.one, no fluke. Absolute genius from Jamie Hamill. A postage stamp, I

:10:33. > :10:48.think they call that. There is a man who knew how to play

:10:49. > :10:53.the game, former Hibs manager, led them to the League Cup in 2007. They

:10:54. > :11:01.blitzed Kilmarnock that they at Hampden. -- that day. Not a bad

:11:02. > :11:06.playing career, either, former Scotland international.

:11:07. > :11:18.Always remembered as the man who scored on the opening day of the

:11:19. > :11:26.1998 World Cup. Callum Tapping is coming on for Hearts, Sam Nicholson

:11:27. > :11:38.is struggling. Tapping is a good midfielder. He is one of those who

:11:39. > :11:48.has taken the opportunity to play first team football with the Hearts

:11:49. > :11:51.squad down to the bare bones. Inverness are working into a huddle,

:11:52. > :11:58.trying to figure out how they can get involved in this. Certainly a

:11:59. > :12:03.few minutes added on at the end, Sam Nicholson, sadly, looks as though he

:12:04. > :12:07.is going to have to come off on a stretcher. You can see him holding

:12:08. > :12:12.his ribs there, he just landed awkwardly.

:12:13. > :12:20.He is certainly a handful. A more robust midfielder coming on. Callum

:12:21. > :12:24.Tapping trying to see this game out for Hearts. You can see that huddle,

:12:25. > :12:33.they have some intent, this Inverness team.

:12:34. > :12:49.It sounded like that took a touch on its way through there.

:12:50. > :13:00.It is a good job this game is at Easter Road, not Tynecastle, for

:13:01. > :13:05.John Beaton, I don't think he would be getting out.

:13:06. > :13:12.I think the most important call of the day did Hearts a favour, or two.

:13:13. > :13:16.Or three. The red card was followed by two

:13:17. > :13:22.goals. Inverness moved from a winning position as they tried to

:13:23. > :13:27.reach their first ever major final. It doesn't look like they will now.

:13:28. > :13:33.They have not threatened since Josh Meekings's header. That was

:13:34. > :13:35.brilliantly saved by the Hearts number one.

:13:36. > :13:47.He also saved two brilliant shots from McKay.

:13:48. > :13:56.Paterson has some space, he is going all the way himself!

:13:57. > :14:02.Meekings got in the way. He has had an eventful day, hasn't he? I tell

:14:03. > :14:06.you, he has an eye for the goal. He is full of confidence and gets his

:14:07. > :14:12.shot away. By good run from Paterson.

:14:13. > :14:18.Sam Nicholson has just been stretchered off in front of the main

:14:19. > :14:42.stand now. He has been in good form, I hope he is not facing a spell out.

:14:43. > :14:51.Nick Ross will, and for Caley Thistle, replacing David Raven.

:14:52. > :14:56.Heading towards the 90 minute mark, Hearts so very close to a place in

:14:57. > :15:00.the League Cup final. Who is your man of the match today, Billy?

:15:01. > :15:03.Inverness were better for long stages of the game and Callum

:15:04. > :15:08.Paterson has been an excellent performer for Hearts, but I think

:15:09. > :15:11.one man changed it. It is Jamie Hamill. With all the trouble she

:15:12. > :15:15.went through, injured, missing finals, he has turned the game on

:15:16. > :15:22.its head. He has not had a brilliant game but his two goals have changed

:15:23. > :15:24.this game and my man of the match -- BBC Scotland man of the match today

:15:25. > :15:36.is Jamie Hamill. Tansey gave them the lead. That was

:15:37. > :15:46.cancelled out by two Jamie Hamill goals. Warren having been sent off

:15:47. > :15:50.for Caley Thistle. Stranraer are in the Scottish Cup fifth round match

:15:51. > :15:57.next week, a potential banana skin, they are not out of this yet,

:15:58. > :16:05.though. Teams who are behind tend to fashion some kind of opportunity.

:16:06. > :16:11.Shinnie! I tell you what, worth a pop, it

:16:12. > :16:20.will just sat for him perfectly. He caught it well enough. Good striker.

:16:21. > :16:32.A minute-and-a-half plus injury-time.

:16:33. > :16:41.They will get a free-kick there. That was good play.

:16:42. > :16:47.It is looking like League Cup heartache for Inverness again. They

:16:48. > :16:55.have been here before. It was a penalty shoot-out last season. That

:16:56. > :17:00.was their first major semifinal. This is their second. In both, they

:17:01. > :17:09.have played Hearts, and they are on the verge of losing to Hearts again.

:17:10. > :17:37.Inverness need the ball at the other end of the park.

:17:38. > :17:51.There will be five minutes of stoppage-time.

:17:52. > :18:24.This is a situation they can scarcely believe. If there is time,

:18:25. > :18:36.there's hope. With Billy McKay in your team, anything is possible.

:18:37. > :18:43.Meekings will find himself... He's off! I thought he was going to that

:18:44. > :18:50.top pocket again. It was cynical from Meekings. He was trying to get

:18:51. > :19:00.- Meekings has decided, "I've lost the ball in a dangerous area, I'm

:19:01. > :19:08.taking him out." He takes a walk. It is all going to pot, as they say!

:19:09. > :19:13.Down to nine men, Callie Thistle. Josh Meekings has lashed out there

:19:14. > :19:21.in frustration. He was sent off himself in this game last season.

:19:22. > :19:28.Cynical. Callie Thistle have lost both their centre-halves this

:19:29. > :19:33.season. -- this afternoon. Graeme Shinnie was booked, too, in the

:19:34. > :19:42.midst of all that. It is all going Hearts way right now.

:19:43. > :19:54.Hearts are heading to the 2014 League Cup Final, it seems. Aberdeen

:19:55. > :19:57.await. This is Stevenson. He will happily take the corner and eat up

:19:58. > :20:01.more time. Three minutes of stoppage-time remaining. This is

:20:02. > :20:24.going in the box with that two-man advantage.

:20:25. > :20:45.Take your time. They need to get the big lads left on the piece up for

:20:46. > :20:51.the set-piece. If they fashion an equaliser, they will have to play

:20:52. > :20:58.extra time with two men shy. They will continue to hunt an equaliser.

:20:59. > :21:02.Jamie MacDonald holds on for dear life. He will be in no rush to

:21:03. > :21:17.release this. Inverness just haven't enough men on

:21:18. > :21:27.the pitch to get a runner. Faces of anguish from the Inverness end.

:21:28. > :21:58.Nick Ross is still there! It's gone in! This is incredible! On their

:21:59. > :22:11.knees, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, two men down, have equalised! Quite

:22:12. > :22:14.incredible scenes at Easter Road! The Highlanders are back in this. We

:22:15. > :22:17.are going to extra time. My word, I said there would be drama, but I

:22:18. > :22:22.didn't expect this. They have never given up. They have shown a

:22:23. > :22:29.togetherness. Watkins does ever so well. Helped into the box. Nick Ross

:22:30. > :22:35.gets it. He reacts quick enough and they scramble it. You think there

:22:36. > :22:38.couldn't be anymore. But that is just unbelievable timing for

:22:39. > :22:41.Inverness! You have to say, over the piece, they deserve that! Just

:22:42. > :22:54.unbelievable! John Hughes roaring. Gary Locke -

:22:55. > :22:58.look at that. Unbelievable. This second half has had it all. It's had

:22:59. > :23:04.everything. We are going to have another half an hour here. Nick Ross

:23:05. > :23:11.for nine-man Callie Thistle, has saved this cup tie, for now. The

:23:12. > :23:23.odds are still against them. Two men down against Hearts. From 1-0 down,

:23:24. > :23:26.after a thunderbolt from Greg Tansey. Josh Meekings was sent off

:23:27. > :23:31.in stoppage-time period, five minutes of which were added on at

:23:32. > :23:36.the end. From nowhere, Nick Ross, on as a late substitute for John

:23:37. > :23:40.Hughes, thrown on more in hope than expectation, he's found the net, has

:23:41. > :23:43.somehow found a way to drag Inverness Caledonian Thistle back

:23:44. > :23:50.into this semifinal and we have another half an hour at least,

:23:51. > :23:54.possibly penalties as well. At the end of 90 minutes, Aberdeen have to

:23:55. > :23:59.wait a bit longer to find out who they will face next month. Heart of

:24:00. > :24:01.Midlothian 2 - Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2. Incredible!

:24:02. > :24:50.non-event. That turned into some game. It makes for a fantastic

:24:51. > :25:06.semifinal here. To get it snatched away at the last

:25:07. > :25:12.moment. Obviously, they have extra time to get the result. But second

:25:13. > :25:16.half, fantastic. The Inverness fans are exhilarated. John Hughes is

:25:17. > :25:21.exhilarated. At this point, reality dawns. They have only nine players

:25:22. > :25:27.on the pitch. I was wondering what formation he is going to come out

:25:28. > :25:34.with at extra time. Is he going to go 3-4-1? It is difficult. Inverness

:25:35. > :25:38.would take penalties now. It is a great advert for Scottish Cup

:25:39. > :25:42.football. Lots to talk about as well. Two red cards and maybe they

:25:43. > :25:46.shouldn't have been two red cards? They were a bit harsh. It's added to

:25:47. > :25:51.what has been a great spectacle in the second half. Yes, the two red

:25:52. > :25:55.cards were slightly harsh. Especially that second one. Mind

:25:56. > :26:11.you, the second yellow card for Meekings as well was - sorry for

:26:12. > :26:16.Warren was harsh. Tremarco is coming on and James Vincent is going off.

:26:17. > :26:19.Back to Billy and to Liam. COMMENTARY: I bet you Inverness

:26:20. > :26:23.Caledonian Thistle would take penalties right now. Half an hour

:26:24. > :26:31.against a team with two more players. A tall order for Callie

:26:32. > :26:40.Thistle. There seemed no hope for them. Already, Hearts have tested

:26:41. > :26:43.Dean Brill. The Inverness fans behind the goal are enjoying their

:26:44. > :26:49.afternoon again. They are loving that save from Brill. Yes, you feel

:26:50. > :26:51.as if there will be a few more Hearts shots peppering that goal.

:26:52. > :27:06.What a save from Brill. Paterson hangs it in there. He does

:27:07. > :27:14.well, attacks it. Brill does well to keep that one out. The header away

:27:15. > :27:52.by Wilson. Tapping takes over. The ball is bouncing about. McHattie

:27:53. > :27:57.almost in. The door is slammed in his face.

:27:58. > :28:06.Scotland open their Six Nations account today in Dublin. That is

:28:07. > :28:10.kicking off in the next hour or so. Once we are done here, we will be

:28:11. > :28:15.here for the rest of the extra time and for the penalties as well, we

:28:16. > :28:32.will be continuing online with the post-match reaction.

:28:33. > :28:38.That leaves Billy McKay up front and he will be filling in when ever he

:28:39. > :28:44.can. When Hearts have the ball, which you would think would be quite

:28:45. > :28:48.a lot, it will be two banks of four, for Inverness, trying to get at

:28:49. > :28:52.least penalties. Four of Hearts last six League Cup ties, they have all

:28:53. > :29:04.gone to penalties, including the two rounds before the quarterfinal when

:29:05. > :29:08.they knocked out Raith Rovers and Queen of the South.

:29:09. > :29:15.They will want this game put to bed before the Lottery starts.

:29:16. > :29:31.Tremarco. We played Morton in midweek and went down to eight

:29:32. > :29:38.outfield players. You have a back four, your three in midfield have to

:29:39. > :29:42.work their socks off and the striker has to flood back in there. It will

:29:43. > :29:48.be some shift for Inverness to get through this. It is possible. You

:29:49. > :29:53.mentioned that high-profile example, I seem to remember in the 1990 World

:29:54. > :29:56.Cup, Cameroon played Argentina, the holders in the opening game, they

:29:57. > :30:00.went down to nine men and won 1-0. Rangers in the League Cup Final in

:30:01. > :30:03.2009 against St Mirren, Danny Wilson, the Hearts skipper playing

:30:04. > :30:08.today, was sent off playing for Rangers that day. Still, he got the

:30:09. > :30:33.medal. Tapping almost got there. It might

:30:34. > :30:38.still fall - a shout for handball. It was Stevenson's effort. A big

:30:39. > :30:42.shout as well. I tell you what, Draper has dived at that to keep out

:30:43. > :30:46.the second attempt. You see it coming in here. It hit his hand

:30:47. > :30:53.there, it's hit his hand there. But just tried to get anything in the

:30:54. > :30:58.way. He tried to pull his arms into his body there. There was no sign of

:30:59. > :31:13.the arms being out. Inverness Caledonian Thistle are one

:31:14. > :31:16.of the best organised sides in Scotland. This is not easy for

:31:17. > :31:23.Hearts, despite having an advantage. There is no way through. Inverness

:31:24. > :32:11.have everyone back. McHattie. There was no sign in the

:32:12. > :32:16.first half of this game - there was no indication of what we were going

:32:17. > :32:27.to see in the second 45. The second 45 had everything. We knew a goal

:32:28. > :32:32.would make the game wide-open. We knew there was going to be drama -

:32:33. > :32:36.and we have had that. There is still a bit to go. As I said, we mentioned

:32:37. > :32:41.at the start of the game, the old penalty kicks. It could get there as

:32:42. > :32:46.well. You don't get any more dramatic than that. Inverness are

:32:47. > :32:50.having to defend this as well without their regular central

:32:51. > :32:55.defensive partnership of Warren and Meekings.

:32:56. > :33:00.This will be one of the great rescue missions if they can reach the

:33:01. > :33:06.final. Hearts with all the ball, as you would expect. Seven minutes into

:33:07. > :33:16.the first period of extra time. It is Stevenson's delivery.

:33:17. > :33:26.No-holds-barred clearance from Greg Tansey who gave Inverness the lead.

:33:27. > :33:36.Brad McKay. Callum Paterson. He took himself on there! The reason we are

:33:37. > :34:07.still here is because of Nick Ross. Watkins took no chances there. You

:34:08. > :34:13.can see how deep they are inside their own six-yard box. No surprise

:34:14. > :34:21.there. Hearts have got to get somebody on the ball and create

:34:22. > :34:25.something in a tight situation. Stevenson to Hamill. Paterson.

:34:26. > :34:41.Knocked away. It's a Hearts corner. It's a big,

:34:42. > :34:47.blue brick wall. Inverness have built it and Hearts can't get

:34:48. > :34:54.through. That is the way Inverness have to play it. Stevenson plays it

:34:55. > :34:57.in. It is headed over by Brad McKay. He thinks he should have had a

:34:58. > :35:03.decision before this reached the back post. You want Stevenson to get

:35:04. > :35:07.on the ball. He can pick out a pass and a cross. On that occasion, he

:35:08. > :35:51.does. You don't have a better chance than that.

:35:52. > :36:05.Nobody is anywhere near the halfway line - and I include Billy McKay in

:36:06. > :37:03.that. What you do in this situation with

:37:04. > :37:06.eight outfield players, you give away the width. That is what you

:37:07. > :37:13.have to do. You keep it nice and tight. John Hughes is pulling over

:37:14. > :37:17.Nick Ross and Tremarco. You defend from deep inside that box. It is all

:37:18. > :38:16.a bit huff and puff at the moment. Another one. Tapping. It's gone

:38:17. > :38:19.against Hearts there. You mentioned the Six Nations today, Scotland

:38:20. > :38:27.opening their account against Ireland in Dublin. They will be

:38:28. > :38:33.proud of that scrum! What was the free-kick for? He blew it early. I

:38:34. > :38:41.don't think Callum Tapping could believe it. John Beaton gives a

:38:42. > :38:46.free-kick. After we are done here, after extra time and penalties if

:38:47. > :38:53.needed we will be continuing all the post-match reaction on our website.

:38:54. > :39:02.Here comes Billy McKay for Inverness. What outcome will we be

:39:03. > :39:06.dissecting? Nick Ross took him out - this is in a wonderful area for

:39:07. > :39:10.Inverness. This is the kind of opportunity that they have been

:39:11. > :39:13.waiting for. They have sat in and sat in, ever since the extra time

:39:14. > :39:19.period started. This is the one time they have managed to get out. Yes,

:39:20. > :39:24.they did ever so well. Nick Ross is fresh. He takes Paterson on. He's

:39:25. > :39:30.clipped. No doubt, it is a free-kick. Inverness will take their

:39:31. > :39:36.time and make sure they put it into a good area, or at least get it on

:39:37. > :39:39.target. Hearts have left a few up. It has to mean that Inverness have

:39:40. > :39:42.to leave players outside the box as well. Tansey takes it. Flicked on by

:39:43. > :39:54.McKay and MacDonald is there. Good movement from McKay. A little

:39:55. > :39:56.shift, a little flick. Comes off the Hearts player and luckily it flies

:39:57. > :40:02.into MacDonald's arms. Paterson switches for McHattie. Too

:40:03. > :40:31.high. The final minute of the first period

:40:32. > :40:38.of extra time. Hearts 2 - Callie Thistle 2. Billy McKay. Watkins.

:40:39. > :40:59.Ross trying to get into the middle. Good play by Scott Robinson.

:41:00. > :41:11.Hearts will try again. Paterson. The goalkeeper has come.

:41:12. > :41:18.They have to try and get behind that Inverness back four. I know it is

:41:19. > :41:23.difficult. If you hang crosses up from wide areas, it will be the

:41:24. > :41:30.goalkeeper's all day long. Drama upon drama at Easter Road. We are no

:41:31. > :41:36.further forward in knowing who will be meeting Aberdeen in next month's

:41:37. > :41:42.League Cup Final. It is Hearts 2 - Inverness 2 at half-time in extra

:41:43. > :41:47.time. Greg Tansey giving Callie Thistle the lead after a fairly

:41:48. > :41:52.uneventful first half. It exploded into life in the second period. That

:41:53. > :42:01.goal from Tansey was a thunderbolt. It was a wonderful goal. Slamming it

:42:02. > :42:04.from distance past Jamie MacDonald. Inverness deserved their lead at

:42:05. > :42:13.that point. They were the better side. Then, all of a sudden, Warren

:42:14. > :42:17.picks up a second yellow card, was sent off, Jamie Hamill scores a

:42:18. > :42:21.deflected goal and a couple of minutes later, he curls one in

:42:22. > :42:27.himself to make it 2-1 to Hearts. All the way until the fourth minute

:42:28. > :42:32.of stoppage-time at the end of the second half. Nick Ross, after Josh

:42:33. > :42:35.Meekings had been sent off to reduce Callie Thistle to nine men, Nick

:42:36. > :42:43.Ross turning home an effort to make it 2-2. That's where we are at. And

:42:44. > :42:47.just 15 minutes left before a penalty shoot-out. Unless one of

:42:48. > :42:53.these teams can conjure something up. In truth, Dean Brill didn't have

:42:54. > :43:00.that much to do. The only save he had to make was from McCallum at the

:43:01. > :43:06.start of that extra time period. Wilson is there for Hearts. That was

:43:07. > :43:10.the only sight of goal that Hearts got. It was. The second half had

:43:11. > :43:14.everything. And the extra time has not come up with anything yet.

:43:15. > :43:18.Whether it is a dramatic winner for Hearts or Inverness, or we go to

:43:19. > :43:25.penalties. The second half had everything. Long from Tremarco and

:43:26. > :43:30.MacDonald scampers across. He gets away with it. This is a great Cup

:43:31. > :43:42.tie. It's certainly come to life. Not sure the Hearts and Inverness

:43:43. > :43:54.fans would agree with that. Whoever wins this may enjoy the re-run.

:43:55. > :44:02.Stevenson's cross. Brill keeps his eye on it. You have to do more than

:44:03. > :44:06.that. He's got the technique to fashion a lovely cross, which he

:44:07. > :44:11.does, but from deep areas, it is hanging up there a long way. You

:44:12. > :44:14.have to try and make passes nice and incisive and quick and try and pull

:44:15. > :44:21.Inverness players out of position. They have not been able to do that

:44:22. > :44:24.so far in extra time, Hearts. You can sometimes panic in a situation

:44:25. > :44:31.like this. The pressure is all on Hearts right now. While it is

:44:32. > :44:35.outfield play, the pressure is very much on them. Inverness are

:44:36. > :44:40.delighted to be in extra time. It didn't look likely.

:44:41. > :44:55.This is Watkins. Tremarco. Ross. He might go for a curler. He was

:44:56. > :45:05.looking for the back post. MacDonald saw that away. Inverness, with nine

:45:06. > :45:14.men, had the effort on goal. The clock continues to tick down. Hamill

:45:15. > :45:21.again encouraged to shoot. Again from distance. Going back to

:45:22. > :45:28.Inverness, they were brilliant. Ross could have given Tremarco the pass

:45:29. > :45:33.back, he didn't, and he went for the far corner. They can do better than

:45:34. > :45:34.that from distance. Inverness won't be worrying too much about shots

:45:35. > :45:53.like that. Aberdeen sealed their place in the

:45:54. > :45:57.League Cup Final yesterday with a 4-0 win over St Johnstone. Four

:45:58. > :46:01.goals here as well, but they have been shared. Are we going to a

:46:02. > :46:07.penalty shoot-out, as we did a year ago?

:46:08. > :46:22.Billy McKay is on his own. That was tremendous play. Now it is with

:46:23. > :46:27.Ross. Billy McKay, when he first arrived at Callie Thistle, he didn't

:46:28. > :46:36.fire, but the next couple of seasons, he has fired!

:46:37. > :46:55.That is why we are playing this extra time. Jamie Hamill. For

:46:56. > :47:01.Paterson. It is such a congested penalty area. The Hearts supporters

:47:02. > :47:06.are left in frustration. Yeah, he took his time there. He has to take

:47:07. > :47:10.a touch, Hamill, and feed him nice and early. They were sitting on

:47:11. > :47:15.their 18-yard line. If he moves it quickly to Paterson, I'm sure he

:47:16. > :47:22.gets a couple of yards on him. Once he waits, Tremarco is on his way

:47:23. > :47:27.out, and the cross is poor. We have some cramp. That is understandable.

:47:28. > :47:50.Just a bit. The Inverness bench - Duncan Shearer

:47:51. > :47:54.and Russell Lafferty has just joined Callie Thistle. Back in his old job.

:47:55. > :48:00.This is the goal scored by Nick Ross. He gets fortunate. It is a

:48:01. > :48:04.lovely touch. With that amount of Hearts bodies in the box, you would

:48:05. > :48:07.expect Nick Ross to be picked up. He is fresh. He loves to shoot. Maybe

:48:08. > :48:11.they don't know who has come on the pitch and they don't pick him up.

:48:12. > :48:15.Anyway, he gets a break of the ball and bundles it home. What a vital

:48:16. > :48:20.goal that could be, especially if we get to penalties. It would be

:48:21. > :48:24.fairytale stuff. They are down to eight men right now. Watkins is off

:48:25. > :48:26.the park. I don't think he will be off for long. He will be back on as

:48:27. > :48:37.soon as possible. This does seem to be going Callie

:48:38. > :48:42.Thistle's way right now. That is remarkable. When you consider where

:48:43. > :48:46.they were after 93.5 minutes of this semifinal. Nine minutes of the extra

:48:47. > :48:49.time left. That is what they have to negotiate. Both teams have to do

:48:50. > :49:07.that. If you had been tuning in right now

:49:08. > :49:13.and expecting to see the oval ball, you will be seeing that soon enough.

:49:14. > :49:19.Scotland taking on Ireland in their Six Nations opener. But the football

:49:20. > :49:24.will continue on our website. All the post-match reaction to come from

:49:25. > :49:36.here. Hearts are left frustrated again by the referee.

:49:37. > :49:43.Clearly off the hand. He didn't react quickly enough, Tapping. I

:49:44. > :49:46.know Hearts are tired now. Just imagine how Inverness are feeling.

:49:47. > :49:50.Although they are tired, they have to get that ball moving quickly, or

:49:51. > :49:57.they won't break down this Inverness defence in midfield. This is Callie

:49:58. > :49:58.Thistle's fourth attempt at a major semifinal. They lost the other

:49:59. > :50:19.three. As things stand, you sense that

:50:20. > :50:24.Jamie MacDonald and Dean Brill are going to be busy in the near future.

:50:25. > :50:29.Unless one of these sides can fashion a winner and Billy McKay

:50:30. > :50:34.almost managing it. Hearts haven't defended this at all. It is McKay.

:50:35. > :50:39.Big shout for a penalty. Ross' shot is blocked. Still, Callie Thistle

:50:40. > :50:43.come with Tansey. It is well over. Billy McKay has taken a knock. He is

:50:44. > :50:47.getting back to his feet. It is Inverness that are finding the

:50:48. > :50:55.space. They haven't defended well all day, Hearts. Not a penalty.

:50:56. > :50:58.McKay kicks into him. Eventually, the shot over the crossbar.

:50:59. > :51:17.Free-kick to Hearts. We haven't seen much of Dale

:51:18. > :51:22.Carrick, really. Inverness have everyone back. Nobody left up. That

:51:23. > :51:30.allows Hearts to put more into the penalty area. McHattie's free-kick.

:51:31. > :51:36.The goalkeeper thought about coming. Tapping was after it with Watkins,

:51:37. > :51:40.who got there first. It is Callum Tapping. They are knocking on the

:51:41. > :51:47.door again. It is wide from Paterson. They are doing enough,

:51:48. > :51:53.Inverness. Draper gets a head on it. Then, I think it is Wilson on the

:51:54. > :51:58.way back. He can't get the header on target. Gary Locke is a frustrated

:51:59. > :52:00.man. It has just been the most incredible journey for Gary Locke in

:52:01. > :52:06.the last 12 months, 11 months. He led them out in the League Cup

:52:07. > :52:21.Final as caretaker manager. They got through the summer and the

:52:22. > :52:26.money wasn't coming in. Still all that needs to be resolved. That is

:52:27. > :52:31.more important, of course. But the finance of another final as well

:52:32. > :52:37.wouldn't go amiss. This is Paterson. Wide again. Sometimes you have to

:52:38. > :52:40.turn out of that. It is a wide area and Inverness are sitting nice and

:52:41. > :52:47.deep. Turn out, come back up the pitch, Robinson was waiting there.

:52:48. > :52:53.They tried to force the cross. Inverness are set. That ain't going

:52:54. > :52:58.to bother them. Keep nice and tight, don't let them through. We will take

:52:59. > :53:04.that. We will get our head on it when it comes in. We said at the

:53:05. > :53:08.start of extra time that Inverness would have ripped your arm off for

:53:09. > :53:12.penalties. We are not far off that now. Four-and-a-half minutes to go.

:53:13. > :53:33.Ryan Stevenson. It breaks to Stevenson. Robinson.

:53:34. > :53:37.Hamill. Back off Tansey. That was better. They showed patience.

:53:38. > :53:39.Eventually, they work it down the wide area. The cross is poor from

:53:40. > :53:42.Hamill. That's a foul. Yellow card for Brad

:53:43. > :54:01.McKay. That is brilliant from Billy McKay.

:54:02. > :54:06.Just takes a touch, uses his experience, holds it up, waits for

:54:07. > :54:13.the tackle and goes down. That's the two McKays.

:54:14. > :54:22.Tremarco finding Billy McKay. Nick Ross.

:54:23. > :54:36.To Shinnie. Billy McKay again. He is onside. It was blocked. Hearts can

:54:37. > :55:04.come away. Three minutes left. Robinson.

:55:05. > :55:09.Hamill. He is going to get it back. McCallum! That was a chance. That

:55:10. > :55:14.was brilliant from Hamill. He whipped that cross in. He plays a

:55:15. > :55:20.pass into the box. Just held up there, laid off by Carrick. And then

:55:21. > :55:27.a lovely dink. He gets a run on Shinnie, McCallum. All he has to do

:55:28. > :55:31.is keep it down. He can't. Instant hero status awaited there for Paul

:55:32. > :56:07.McCallum. Hearts are desperate to avoid a

:56:08. > :56:15.penalty shoot-out. Scott Robinson. Paterson is an option again.

:56:16. > :56:19.McCallum wins it. The hearts fans wanted a penalty. No appeal from the

:56:20. > :56:27.players. Draper got a foot on it, no doubt. Hamill. Tapping wanted it.

:56:28. > :56:30.They couldn't find him. Watkins instead. Dean Brill clears. And

:56:31. > :56:39.finds Billy McKay. We are moving into the final minute

:56:40. > :56:44.of extra time. McKay was wonderful. I know Brill has taken a touch and

:56:45. > :56:48.another touch, but McKay drifts across. He knows it is going into

:56:49. > :57:00.that area. He holds it up and gets his team a throw-in.

:57:01. > :57:19.One last throw of the dice. That was a poor ball, really poor ball.

:57:20. > :57:27.Tansey can hoist it away. A tired ball. They have to concentrate on

:57:28. > :57:33.their technique and the delivery. Seconds left. One minute of added

:57:34. > :57:36.time being added on as well. That is straight at Dean Brill again and he

:57:37. > :57:53.holds on. They were have very close to the

:57:54. > :57:59.final. If they have not had enough drama at the club! The extra time

:58:00. > :58:02.has been frustrating. Both sets of supporters are going to have to

:58:03. > :58:07.suffer a penalty shoot-out very soon. It is a shoot-out Inverness

:58:08. > :58:10.would have taken when 2-1 down at the end of the second half. They

:58:11. > :58:15.might yet win it outright. Here is Graeme Shinnie. Good run from him.

:58:16. > :58:22.Did that come off the Hearts man last? No, Shinnie keeps it in play.

:58:23. > :58:29.Pinched off him by McHattie. It is the final few seconds. McHattie -

:58:30. > :58:40.and Graeme Shinnie wins the ball back. Ten seconds left. It's been

:58:41. > :58:44.given to Draper. It's penalties! A pulsating Scottish League Cup tie

:58:45. > :58:48.here at Easter Road. Tansey for Inverness put them in front, a

:58:49. > :58:55.double from Hamill turned it on its head at 2-1. Nick Ross rescued it

:58:56. > :58:59.deep into second half stoppage-time. Somehow, the nine men of Callie

:59:00. > :59:04.Thistle have taken this game to penalties. Hearts' advantage has

:59:05. > :59:09.gone. It is now a lottery. It finished here Heart of Midlothian 2

:59:10. > :59:16.- Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2. STUDIO: We have been there before, a

:59:17. > :59:21.year ago in the League Cup semifinals. Hearts and Inverness

:59:22. > :59:27.went to penalties to decide who was going a step further. It is same

:59:28. > :59:30.again here at Easter Road and I guess the question for lots of

:59:31. > :59:46.people, especially the Hearts fans at the moment is, why or how could

:59:47. > :59:50.Hearts make their numerical superiority tell? They put McKay

:59:51. > :59:54.through the middle and for some strange reason Hearts kept four

:59:55. > :59:58.players at the back. I find that bizarre. That is the opportunity

:59:59. > :00:03.where you have got to take the initiative and force Inverness on to

:00:04. > :00:06.the back foot. To keep four players at the back, two full-backs in place

:00:07. > :00:11.and you are playing against one striker, that makes no sense. You

:00:12. > :00:18.need to press yourself higher up the pitch. The crosses in weren't good

:00:19. > :00:22.enough either. I didn't see McCallum touch the ball for Hearts there.

:00:23. > :00:26.Dean Brill didn't have a save to make. You need to - you expect more

:00:27. > :00:32.when you are playing against nine men. It is disappointing, very

:00:33. > :00:38.disappointing. Now, as Liam just said, Hearts' advantage is out of

:00:39. > :00:42.the window. Hats off to Inverness for how they played with nine men.

:00:43. > :00:46.They even managed to carve out a couple of chances? Yes, one of the

:00:47. > :00:54.most creative bits of play was from Nick Ross and Billy McKay. When you

:00:55. > :01:00.are playing against nine men, eight outfield players, you are happy that

:01:01. > :01:06.teams throw the ball in. The only time they created a chance was when

:01:07. > :01:10.they played a clever one-two. I thought we saw the half-hour through

:01:11. > :01:13.quite comfortably. You have the inside track. Who is taking these

:01:14. > :01:17.penalties for Callie Thistle? Are you feeling confident? I tell you

:01:18. > :01:23.the problem - there are some very tired legs out there. Tremarco and

:01:24. > :01:28.Ross will be favourites. Tansey will take one. Draper and McKay will be

:01:29. > :01:34.my guess. It is a lottery. The one good thing is, Dean Brill is a good

:01:35. > :01:40.shot-stopper. I would fancy him. It will take a good penalty to beat

:01:41. > :01:44.him. Hearts are looking for this to go the way it did a year ago?

:01:45. > :01:48.Charlie is right. The one worry for Inverness is the fact that the guys

:01:49. > :01:52.- will they have enough concentration and not be too tired?

:01:53. > :01:57.They have put in a great effort there. Hearts have been

:01:58. > :02:01.disappointing. They have to concentrate on trying to get through

:02:02. > :02:07.to the final here and it's a lottery, though. Some nerve-jangling

:02:08. > :02:12.moments for us all to go through here. We have all been through it. I

:02:13. > :02:17.don't think many of us enjoy it. It is a horrible thing to go through

:02:18. > :02:21.for the players. Both sets of players have really given us

:02:22. > :02:26.something - we didn't expect this after half an hour. They have served

:02:27. > :02:39.up a cracker. It is time for the shoot-out. Back to the commentary

:02:40. > :02:45.team. COMMENTARY: Advantage Hearts! He

:02:46. > :02:50.struck it well enough. MacDonald guesses the right way. Good height

:02:51. > :03:00.for him. Not a great start for Inverness. Good save by MacDonald.

:03:01. > :03:08.Paul McCallum, who just arrived at the club, just before the weekend,

:03:09. > :03:14.has a chance to press home that initiative.

:03:15. > :03:24.He can't do it! We are level again. What next? Brill is another one who

:03:25. > :03:27.guesses the right way. He shows him what way he is going to hit it.

:03:28. > :03:33.Don't take anything away from the keeper. That is a great stop. It is

:03:34. > :03:37.the same end at Easter Road the penalties were taken last season.

:03:38. > :03:48.Billy McKay. He makes it 1-0 to Inverness! MacDonald goes left.

:03:49. > :03:57.McKay opens out his body but drags it the other way. That one is right

:03:58. > :03:59.in the corner. It been drama from start to finish. Dale Carrick is

:04:00. > :04:12.next up for Hearts. The 20-year-old. Will Dean Brill save it? No, he

:04:13. > :04:19.won't. It is 1-1. After the first two were missed, you think how is it

:04:20. > :04:23.going to go, but the last two have been excellent. Young man with big

:04:24. > :04:27.shoulders, sticks it in the corner, brilliant from Carrick. Hearts have

:04:28. > :04:35.won their last four League Cup shoot-outs. Nick Ross, the man who

:04:36. > :04:41.took us here. He scores! Great penalty. It was. He put the laces

:04:42. > :04:47.through it. Head down and thumps it. High and handsome. No chance for

:04:48. > :04:52.MacDonald. Next up for Hearts is the regular spot-kick taker, Jamie

:04:53. > :04:54.Hamill. A double in normal time. It looked like he had already taken

:04:55. > :05:07.Hearts to the League Cup Final. Good save! It's advantage Callie

:05:08. > :05:15.Thistle! To be honest, I was waiting on Hamill thumping it. He tries to

:05:16. > :05:22.hook it into the corner. Brill is on his way. It was well enough hit and

:05:23. > :05:28.it was a great save. 2-1 to Callie Thistle. Next up for them is Greg

:05:29. > :05:35.Tansey. What a goal he scored earlier on in this game to put

:05:36. > :05:39.Inverness 1-0 up. Hearts need Jamie MacDonald here. Tansey thumps the

:05:40. > :05:44.ball into the net. Wonderful spot-kick again and now it is

:05:45. > :05:48.massive pressure on Scott Robinson of Hearts. Brilliant from Tansey. He

:05:49. > :05:52.smashes it home. No chance for MacDonald. Robinson now. He's got to

:05:53. > :06:11.handle this pressure. Must score. He does! We continue. The drama

:06:12. > :06:17.continues. Well done, son. Robinson. Calmness personified. Let's Brill go

:06:18. > :06:23.left. He hooks it. Well done. Great pen. Penalty number five and a

:06:24. > :06:31.chance for Ross Draper to send Inverness Caledonian Thistle into

:06:32. > :06:36.their first major final. Their first major final.

:06:37. > :06:47.They are going to the final! Ross Draper has sensationally sent

:06:48. > :06:50.nine-man Callie Thistle into the Scottish League Cup Final! It's one

:06:51. > :07:01.of the coolest penalties you will ever, ever see! Cool as ice! Nick

:07:02. > :07:07.Ross levelled things right at the end of 90 minutes. He still had 30

:07:08. > :07:11.minutes to negotiate with nine players, but 11-man Hearts could not

:07:12. > :07:15.do it. The Inverness Caledonian Thistle story will have another

:07:16. > :07:23.glorious chapter written into it! They will play Aberdeen in the final

:07:24. > :07:27.on the 16th March. They were so, so close to going out of this

:07:28. > :07:34.competition. Tansey gave them the lead, Warren was sent off for before

:07:35. > :07:39.Jamie Hamill scored a double. Josh Meekings was sent off. It looked all

:07:40. > :07:43.over at that point. Nick Ross somehow bundled the ball over the

:07:44. > :07:48.line deep into second half stoppage-time. He made it 2-2. It

:07:49. > :07:52.was still a tall order for them. They took it all the way through to

:07:53. > :07:58.penalties. John Hughes fist-pumps in front of the fans. They will be

:07:59. > :08:07.coming back down the A9 for a final where they will face Aberdeen. Ross

:08:08. > :08:11.Draper, with the decisive spot-kick. Callie Thistle will play Aberdeen in

:08:12. > :08:14.the Scottish League Cup Final of 2014. 2-2 it finished here. But

:08:15. > :08:27.Inverness through 4-2 on penalties. STUDIO: Ross Draper stays school and

:08:28. > :08:30.gets the job done for nine-man Inverness Caledonian Thistle and got

:08:31. > :08:36.through that half-hour of extra time. They win on the penalty

:08:37. > :08:42.shoot-out. They get revenge for losing at this very same stage, in a

:08:43. > :08:46.shoot-out, a year ago. That smile might have to be surgically removed

:08:47. > :08:53.off the face of John Hughes later! Callie Thistle have come out on top

:08:54. > :08:57.at Easter Road 4-2 on penalties. All the reaction, the post-match

:08:58. > :09:02.reaction to come on the BBC website. Log into that. We try to pick over

:09:03. > :09:15.an amazing match. Go to: Get there for the football reaction

:09:16. > :09:20.as we start heading for Dublin and it's Ireland against Scotland in the

:09:21. > :09:27.Six Nations, the teams are lined up and are all set to go. We can cross

:09:28. > :09:38.to our commentary team. I was reading earlier on about

:09:39. > :09:41.Michael Higgins who is a sports fan and a regular at the Galway races

:09:42. > :09:47.and former president of Galway United but all club. He is meeting

:09:48. > :09:48.the players now. -- football