Craig Gordon 'squeaky bum' effect had Hearts at shootout advantage says Robbie Neilson as Jambos reset for final push

Robbie Neilson hailed captain fantastic Craig Gordon’s role in Hearts clinching a Scottish Cup quarter-final spot after a tense shoot-out.

The Jambos marched on after Gordon saved Ayo Obileye’s spot kick following 120 minutes of stalemate at Tynecastle.

John Souttar, Peter Haring, and Ben Woodburn had all scored from the spot for Hearts before Livi sub Cristian Montano hit the post.

Ellis Simms maintained the Jambos’ 100 per cent success rate to pile the pressure on Obileye – and for the second time in a week the defender failed to net from 12 yards.

But boss Neilson insists Gordon played a much bigger part in this success than many will have realised.

He said: “If I was an opposition player stepping up and Craig Gordon was in goal I would have a squeaky bum, that’s for sure!

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“It’s massive for us.

“I thought they all struck their penalties really well.

“We asked them to go and pick their spot and hit it. To their credit they did that.”

Gordon served notice that he was in no mood to be beaten early in the game.

Twice in the first ten minutes he denied Livingston striker Bruce Anderson.

First he got down well to save Anderson’s shot after the Livi man had driven into the area.

The former Aberdeen