How Carter-Vickers JINXED Joe Hart as Celtic star Alistair Johnston admits telling him 'you can't say that'

Alistair Johnston admits he was cursing Joe Hart when the Celtic keeper put him on the spot. But he was hailing the Hoops no.1 as a hero for producing the save that sent Celts into the Scottish Cup Final.

Johnston’s head was spinning by the end of an incredible afternoon on Glasgow’s south side. The Canadian had seen Aberdeen surge ahead, the Hoops turn it around only to concede an equaliser in the last minute of regulation time. Celts got in front once more – only to get pegged back in the final second of extra time.

In between times there were disallowed goals, VAR controversy, a million subplots and plenty losing the plot. And all of that was before a mind-blowing shoot-out where Hart stepped up to take the fifth penalty with a chance to seal it for Celts – only to hit the post. Johnston was next in line and managed to do the business before his keeper confirmed a return to Hampden next month with a decisive save.

The full back needed a lie down in a dark room by the end of it all. Johnston said: “I was just begging for the final whistle and then, of course, they scored.

“My first thought was, ‘I’m going to have to take a penalty. I’m just happy that thing went it. There was relief when Joe made the save. He had the chance to win and big Cameron Carter-Vickers said, ‘this is going to be a fairytale for Joe’.

“I said, ‘you can’t say that out loud, you’ve jinxed it!’ Then, he hit the post. I knew I was going to take the sixth penalty and that I was next. Cheers mate! When he saved that final one it was relief. Joe is so good at those, he’s in great form.”

Hart grabbing the ball had Hampden stunned and eyebrows flying up so quickly they were in danger of flying off foreheads all around the ground while jaws were