5

Bring on the Barca, thats all i can say.
There is history and loads of it. It is 14 years since the last time the Jambo's split the old firm, it is 46 years since the last time the Jambo's represented Scotland in Europes premier competition. So what can anyone say, all the madness the highs and lows of the season. What Hearts have acheived this season is now remarkable for all of the right reasons as well as all of the mental reasons.
Hoo on the Jambos absolutely bloody fantastic

I started yesterday with the knowledge that Rangers had edged out Hibs at Easter Road to again move to within a point of Hearts and again put the pressure on, now it is right down to the wire and any slip has no time for recovery - it is very simple - win the game against Aberdeen and all is well with the world we will again move 4 points ahead of Rangers with only the one game left. Anything else, draw or defeat will mean we need at least a draw at Ibrox on Sunday to secure 2nd place.
If you had asked me before the defeat to Hibs i would have, with much bravado, said 'sure man but it would be brilliant if it goes right to the last game at Ibrox, what a game that would be, and besides i have no fear of going to Ibrox - we will take something from the game'. To the same question yesterday, my response would have bleeted 'Please god let us take it tonight, having to take something from Ibrox will destroy me'.
As the day wore on and the kick off loomed nearer i became more and more nervous, it was around 2 o'clock in the afternoon when it was explained to me - in 86 we played the penultimate game of the season at Tynecastle against Aberdeen and it was a 1 - 1 draw. The guy a blue nose ofcourse was just trying to wind me up, or clutch at a straw. But for me it nailed it and i was of on an omen laced trip, and the nerves which lets face it are already completely shot, were again stretched to the limit.

Everything was just a wee bit wrong, not everything - the weather was brilliant. A really nice early May evening as we assembled for almost the final time at Tynecastle this season ( we should hopefully get to do it again to watch the Jambo's bring home the cup a week on Sunday ). The crowd were nervous and the warm up which is normally quite hectic seemed pedestrian, this was not helping me. The line-up at least was looking settled with exactly the same team that opened against Celtic. The pre-match wrongness culminated in the now familiar Hearts huddle, but the huddle lasted only half as long as normal - we are up to our eye sockets in nerves i think - gulp.
The nervousness was realised as soon as the game started, we had trouble controlling the ball, we certainly couldn't put 3 passes together. Everything we tried was just that we bit not quite right - what looked like it might have been a fantastic defence splitting pass down the right channel for Chesnauskis to run on to would just trundle over the byeline, just half a yard too far. Or Skacel would cut inside just as Jankauskas slips the ball out or Bednar moves the ball square right into Jankauskas who has two on him whele Skacel is free on his left. It was just not happening. Aberdeen were there to, they were right up for it, a win they needed, i guess they could have lived with a draw but like Hibs they needed Rangers to pip Hearts into 2nd place so they needed to beat us. They were in our faces and they were busy and they were pretty dangerous looking to begin with. Mostly with a couple of near thing offsides that went Hearts way, or they would have been right through. As each minute passed tho Hearts would exert just a touch more control on the game and by 20 minutes in Aberdeen were drying up as an attacking force. As an attacking force tho Hearts were still to kick in, we had a few efforts but it just wasn't there. The best of this was really close tho, for once some neat passing that came of ended with Skacel tearing into the box and smashing a shot low to the inside of the keeper, can't be certain but i think it came of the post and screamed across to the other side of the box.

It was a tough, tough half and it finished 0 - 0. I have mentioned a few times this season that if Hearts are not 2 up at half time then i am nervous - i was really nervous.
Then came the half time entertainment. All season Hearts have been running a competition, each week 3 punters turn up on the pitch and from the D at the Gorgie end try to hit the bar. Surprising how many managed it, each who did was back tonight to do the same and win the big prize. There were 16 of them. So in turn they each try to hit the bar from the D again - they went round twice and no one managed it and they ran out of time and had to draw for the winner. Me and the guy that sits in front of me looked at each other and in unison said 'if thats not an omen, i don't know what is' and my nervous breakdown takes another step closer.

Just as the 2nd half is about to start i am thinking Ivanauskas will have had a word with them maybe we will see a more possitive and controlled half. Aguair receives the kick off and is short with his pass back to Tall and the Aberdeen front two race in and steal it and my hopes are dashed immediately. Just a blip tho we are again back on top and now really do have the midfield and are able to press the game. A couple of shots and not so great crosses but we are getting closer and at least by now we can find each other with the ball. Can't remember right now where it came from, cross throw in or corner from the right, the keeper is lost, the ball is over his head, it is heading for Jankauskas at the back post he is only 2 ft out from the line he can't miss...... Up comes an Aberdeen hand to steal the ball from his head. Stonewall penalty and he should have been sent off, nobody is sure who he is Russel Anderson or Zander Diamond, think it should have been Zander for having such a stupid name.
Hartley has not missed a penalty all season, but my brain is fried, i know fine well he allways puts the ball in the same place, low to his left, and if the Aberdeen keeper has half a brain then so does he. He almost got there but but too much pace and we are 1 up and i can't believe we are ahead.
We had other efforts, i am sure we were close on a couple of occassions, but we were destined to take it to the wire with the most slender of leads. Ex Jambo Scott Severin was sent off for a cynical and pointless two footed lunge at Aguair, but you wouldn't have known really. To be honest tho i don't have much of a recollection - this was purgatory, i don't think Aberdeen really threatened but the memory of them stealing a 2 - 1 win from being 1 down a couple of months back was at the front of my mind.
We endured the customary last few minutes where we were booting the ball anywhere and there were a few balls dropping into our box with players throwing themselves in and anything could have happened, but we endured.
The final whistle brought the biggest roar of the season and it was 99% relief, the ecstacy will come with the cup.
The highlights are on the TV tonight, i will watch because i have funny idea that we were actually pretty good, in the second half at least, and i have been unjust. It was just too much like hard work tho.

So thats it we finish 2nd and have a shot at the Champions League next season and huge amounts of vindication for Vlad and some of his mental decisions. We can now look to thye cup final with real pride and joy in what we have already done and the cup will be a giant slice of icing for the cake.

Oh yes and 5 thats the number of years last night cost me.