IN the players' lounge at Hampden after the League Cup Final in 2013, I looked over at Gary Locke and Billy Brown with tears in my eyes.
Losing to St Mirren was devastating but it wasn't the personal heartache that got to me. It was seeing what the manager and his No.2 had put in and feeling we'd let them down. We owed them that trophy and had come up short.
That was a painful experience and something I hope the current Hearts team can avoid this season.
But the squad is in the same position right now.
They have four games that will make or break their season and they owe it to Neil Critchley to do the business.
I admit I was sceptical when the manager came in.
It was a case of wait and see... but you have to look at where the club were when he came in to where they are now.
He's done a sensational job. Yes, the last couple of derbies have hurt badly.
But, bigger picture, Hearts can seal their place in the top six and then claim a spot in the Scottish Cup Final.
A campaign that could have been a total nightmare may well turn out to be something special. If Critchley can bag top six, finish above Hibs and get into Europe, then win the Scottish Cup, there will be a statue outside Tynecastle.
Whether or not they get the chance to shoot for those targets depends on the next couple of weeks.
An entire season boils down to these next four games - Celtic at Parkhead, Dundee United and then Motherwell before the split, followed by Aberdeen at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semis.
This is what it's all about. It's make or break time but everyone at Hearts shouldn't be daunted... they should be excited.
A few months ago, they were staring down the barrel of a relegation battle.
Now it's all to play for.
The important thing is keeping it that way because the last thing they want right now is the campaign to peter out. It's a horrible feeling seeing out a season with nothing to play for. It's not worth even contemplating.
Look at the flip side, though. There's a chance to go to Celtic in two days' time, put on a right good performance and maybe even get a result.
What a boost that would be, then there's an opportunity to reel in United and end Well's chances of knocking Hearts out of the top six.
Listen, it might only take a couple of points to seal it but they shouldn't be thinking that way. They should be thinking about getting top six as soon as possible - then setting their sights on Hibs.
I can't think of a better incentive for the rest of the season than beating the rivals in the last of the derbies and then finishing above them.
Add in the Scottish Cup and it could be magical.
Celtic is a tough one to start, we know that. They are ...
Losing to St Mirren was devastating but it wasn't the personal heartache that got to me. It was seeing what the manager and his No.2 had put in and feeling we'd let them down. We owed them that trophy and had come up short.
That was a painful experience and something I hope the current Hearts team can avoid this season.
But the squad is in the same position right now.
They have four games that will make or break their season and they owe it to Neil Critchley to do the business.
I admit I was sceptical when the manager came in.
It was a case of wait and see... but you have to look at where the club were when he came in to where they are now.
He's done a sensational job. Yes, the last couple of derbies have hurt badly.
But, bigger picture, Hearts can seal their place in the top six and then claim a spot in the Scottish Cup Final.
A campaign that could have been a total nightmare may well turn out to be something special. If Critchley can bag top six, finish above Hibs and get into Europe, then win the Scottish Cup, there will be a statue outside Tynecastle.
Whether or not they get the chance to shoot for those targets depends on the next couple of weeks.
An entire season boils down to these next four games - Celtic at Parkhead, Dundee United and then Motherwell before the split, followed by Aberdeen at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semis.
This is what it's all about. It's make or break time but everyone at Hearts shouldn't be daunted... they should be excited.
A few months ago, they were staring down the barrel of a relegation battle.
Now it's all to play for.
The important thing is keeping it that way because the last thing they want right now is the campaign to peter out. It's a horrible feeling seeing out a season with nothing to play for. It's not worth even contemplating.
Look at the flip side, though. There's a chance to go to Celtic in two days' time, put on a right good performance and maybe even get a result.
What a boost that would be, then there's an opportunity to reel in United and end Well's chances of knocking Hearts out of the top six.
Listen, it might only take a couple of points to seal it but they shouldn't be thinking that way. They should be thinking about getting top six as soon as possible - then setting their sights on Hibs.
I can't think of a better incentive for the rest of the season than beating the rivals in the last of the derbies and then finishing above them.
Add in the Scottish Cup and it could be magical.
Celtic is a tough one to start, we know that. They are ...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 27, 2025