HEARTS: ROADTO HAMPDEN

THIRD ROUND

Hearts 2

Kilmarnock 1

The Jambos begin their route to the Final with a hard-fought win over fellow SPL outfit Kilmarnock.

A Steven Pressley header and Jamie McAllister's strike give the Edinburgh side a comfortable 2-0 lead but Colin Nish pulls one back for Killie.

Hearts hold on to advance to the next round but only after a few nervous moments.

FOURTH ROUND

Hearts 3

Aberdeen 0

Hearts ride their luck in another all-SPL affair as Aberdeen are denied a stonewall penalty when striker Stevie Crawford is brought down in the box.

But the 1998 Cup winners down the Dons with an astonishing three-goal burst to finish the tie before the interval.

Czech striker Michal Pospisil, youngster Calum Elliot and skipper Pressley find the target as Hearts book a place in the last eight of the competition.

QUARTER-FINALS

Hearts 2

Partick Thistle 1

The capital side advance but only after making heavy work of their Second Division visitors.

Edgaras Jankauskas gets them off to the perfect start after just six minutes but it's a long time before a magnificent individual strike from Deividas Cesnauskis eases the Tynecastle nerves.

But the home worries return when Mark Roberts scores and Ricky Gillies blows a superb late chance to snatch what would have been a well-deserved replay.

SEMI-FINALS

Hibs 0

Hearts 4

Jubilant Jambos blow away an injury-ravaged Hibs side as the eagerly-awaited Edinburgh derby showdown that saw fans flood rail and road links between the capital and Glasgow turns into an embarrassingly one-sided affair.

Scotland international Paul Hartley steals the show at the National Stadium with a memorable hat-trick but not before Jankauskas weighs in with goal No.3.

Taken from the Daily Record