Penalty practice at Hearts as Liam Boyce recalls knee slide against Hibs

The last Hearts-Hibs Scottish Cup semi-final was decided by Boyce’s extra-time spot-kick inside an empty National Stadium in 2020. The Covid pandemic was in full flow, a fact reinforced to the Northern Irishman as he slid across the turf on his knees in celebration after putting his team 2-1 ahead.

“It was weird at the time. You 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 the penalty last time I ran to the stands and did a knee slide then remembered there was nobody there.

“You are celebrating in front of nobody. Hopefully I get one on Saturday and I can celebrate with everybody. I remember I missed a big chance but we got the penalty and I scored and won, so I’d take the same again.

“This is a different game. We were a Championship team then and probably expected to lose. So it doesn’t matter what happens – it’s who turns up on the day and who deals with situations the best.

“When I’m taking penalties I always have an idea of what I’m going to do before. It’s just about executing it. I missed the one against Celtic despite sending the keeper the wrong way. It hit the post and I have no idea how it never went in. But when taking penalties you just have to be confident, do what you plan to do and execute as best you can.”

Players at Riccarton and East Mains will hit umpteen efforts from the spot over the next few days, just in case the nerve-tingling scenario arises on Saturday. Boyce isn’t fazed by the occasional miss, even on the big occasion.

“Nah! It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said. “I’ve done alright at Hampden since, I have scored a few goals against Hibs the last time and Celtic in the