Hearts: Origins of popular Craig Gordon meme and why Hearts keeper found Hibs win a laughing matter

Craig Gordon knows that Hibs want to wipe the grin off his face. But when the serious business of Saturday afternoon’s Scottish Cup semi-final is concluded, he believes there is every chance that he and his Hearts team-mates will be smiling all the way to the final.

In the 2020 Hampden head-to-head, the Scotland keeper laughed at Hibs’ dismay, as he leapt down to his left to deny Kevin Nisbet what looked like a certain opener after the striker had connected with Martin Boyle’s 28th-minute cross into the box.

As the tv cameras zoomed, his response launched a thousand memes.

“I think it was a reaction to the Hibs players who were standing in the box,” explained the 39-year-old club captain. “I think it was [Christian] Doidge who was just looking at me after it. I knew it was a good save and it was a good feeling to be able to stand and look at the disbelief on the strikers’ face. That is why we become goalkeepers, for that feeling of denying a certain goal and witnessing the reaction and the disappointment.

“It is a slightly different position because most players want to score goals but that is what I was laughing at. It wasn’t anything too sinister, it was just the reaction of the Hibs players.

“It was very unusual, because I don’t usually react like that. It was just one of those things, in the moment, and I found it amusing. I am not known for too much emotion on the park but I found that one quite funny.”

In a career that has spanned decades and provided numerous highs and some difficult lows, as a proud Hearts man, victories over his team’s city rivals have always counted among the former. Especially those at the national stadium, and especially when they lead to silverware.

“Back in 2006, it was a great day and a