'Another win for the BIG club in a BIG game', 'Cup games not about performance... you need to be ruthless': Ex-players have say on Hearts win over Hibs in Scottish Cup semi-final

Fans had their say but former players, and opponents, of Hearts and Hibs chimed in on the result at Hampden yesterday.

Hearts defeated their city rivals to book a December return to Hampden. Picture: SNS

And those of a maroon persuasion were a lot happier with the result, though it was tinged with sadness over the death of Marius Zaliukas.

Former Jambos defender Paul Ritchie (@paulr1tchie) posted the overall derby score – 144 to 86 and added: “Just in case any deluded Hibernian fan believes that they are the number 1 team in the Capital. @JamTarts runs the City #naturalorder”

Adding emojis of the Scotland flag and lots of clapping hands, England international, and dad of Olly, Rob Lee (@7RobLee) tweeted: “Great result @JamTarts”

Stephen Elliot (@SleevesElliott) : “Another win for the BIG club in a BIG game. Sad day for everyone associated with the Jambos though. No doubt Big Zal’s memory will live forever through the club #RIP #HHGH”

Another cup winning Hearts player Ryan McGowan (@rmcgowan89) added: “Marius was an example to everyone trying to make it in football.For years he got a hard time off fans, called a bombscare, not good enough. He stuck at it, worked hard and ended up skippering the club to one of the greatest results while winning the Scottish Cup.

Rest easy mate.”

Asked if he’d be celebrating the result, McGowan replied: “Will be having a few for the skipper tonight.”

Ex-Hibs striker Tam McManus (@The_Tman10) wrote: “Congratulations to Hearts. Cup games not about performance/stats only about getting into next round. Very frustrating night for Hibs but you need to put the ball in the net/be ruthless. Also special mention to Willie Collum for somehow managing to get three penalty decisions wrong.”

Cup winning Easter Road boss Alan Stubbs (@alanstubbs_6) was a little premature with this in-play tweet though: “Oh we love a comeback @HampdenPark don’t we @HibernianFC come on the hibbes.”

The match ended 2-1 to Hearts after extra-time. So of course there was room for some well-known fans to get in on the action and radio host Ewen Cameron (@EwenDCameron) was in a gloating mood. He tweeted: “HEARTS 2 Hibs 1 Hey.... Irvine Welsh, Andy Murray, Jamie Murray, Dougrie Scott, The Proclaimers, Grant Stott, Gordon Smart, Josh Taylor, Fish and Jack Ross .....G I R U Y #HeartsHeartsGloriousHearts #HeartsvHibs #WeOwnEdinburgh”