Hearts’ Scottish League Cup run is over after a defeat at Tynecastle against holders Celtic on Wednesday.
The League Cup dream is over for Hearts, for another season anyway, with Griffith and Rogic scoring late goals to see the holders Celtic into the last four. Djoum score a late goal, but that was merely a consolation with the Jambos seem off two-one.
I wouldn’t ever wish injury on anyone, and I mean anyone, however Hearts had a ‘boost’ if you will before a ball was kicked as both Brown and MacKay-Steven picked up injuries before a ball was even kicked as they were injured in the pre-match warm up!
Again, as was the case in the Premiership meeting, Hearts were ‘disciplined and organised’ to limit the potent attacking threat that Celtic had with the Bhoys limited to half chances with Sow having a first half opportunity as he worked himself an opening but his effort went wide in a goalless first 45-minutes.
Sow had the ball in the net as Hearts took a second half lead, or so the Jambos felt, but as he forced the ball past Celtic ‘keeper Gordon, with the Scottish international of course starting his career at Tynecastle, it was decided he had strayed offside when McGhee’s freekick was headed down to him by Paterson so this was ruled out.
With the guard dropped the deadlock was broken in the final 20-minutes when Griffiths (71), who had caused plenty of problems, was able to work his way past a couple of Hearts defenders as Celtic broke through when he curled past Alexander.
A reaction was sought, but couldn’t come from Hearts with Celtic securing the win in the final 10-minutes when Griffiths turned provider to set up Rogic (82), who had come off the bench, to make it two.
Hearts got a goal back late on through Djoum (90) but his header from a Walker corner was too late with that merely a consolation for the Jambos efforts on the night with Celtic booking a place in the Semi Finals where they’ll be overwhelming favourites to secure a Final place and indeed retain their trophy!
The Jambos can now ‘concentrate on the league’ for now….
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