Liam Boyce versus Hibs at Hampden: Hearts striker recalls goal in front of no fans and his Ross County triumph

In one of the biggest derbies, on the nation’s biggest stage, Liam Boyce hit the decisive penalty past Ofir Marciano and darted off in celebration.

With just 10 minutes of extra time remaining, in the delayed 2020 Scottish Cup semi-final, the Hearts striker had helped his Championship team defy their underdog status and maintain the Gorgie side’s 100 per cent record against the Leith rivals at Hampden.

But, thanks to covid restrictions, there was something lacking – the sight of thousands of fans going nuts in the stands.

“It was weird at the time. We had got a bit used to it in league games but Hampden is massive and then there’s the running track – I know there’s going to be a lot of fans this weekend – but when I scored that penalty I ran to the stands and did a knee slide then remembered there was nobody there!

“You are celebrating in front of nobody. But hopefully I get one on Saturday and I can celebrate with everybody," added the 31-year-old.

“When I was younger I used to practice celebrations and try to be funny. Now it’s pure emotion, it’s just what football is all about.

“You always have to believe as a striker you are going to score and that feeling when you do is what motivates you. You don’t get it anywhere else in life, really, the adrenaline of seeing thousands of people going nuts, that’s what you want.

“Once you do it a couple of times you want to keep doing it, it motivates you to get in the right positions and take chances.”

The winning moment in a game that could have gone either way, Boyce had cleared a Paul Hanlon effort off the line earlier in proceedings. Craig Wighton had given Hearts the lead and Christian Doidge equalised to push the game into extra time.

After Kevin Nisbet had the bar from the