Saturday 16 April 2016 18:46, UK
Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs revealed he "wanted to strangle" Jason Cummings after the striker missed an audacious penalty against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Midway through the first half at Hampden Park, Cummings attempted a chipped Panenka style spot kick, only to see the ball sail hopelessly over the bar.
The striker, who had already registered 23 goals this season, eventually made amends for his mistake by scoring the winning penalty in a 4-2 shootout victory after the match had earlier finished goalless.
"I wanted to strangle him, initially," admitted Stubbs after the match.
"I didn't see it. I went into the toilet. Normally when I go in, even at Easter Road, you normally hear a cheer but I heard a groan as I came out so I knew he had missed.
"I didn't know how he had missed but when I got back a few of the lads were shaking their heads and saying he had tried to dink it.
"If he practises them in training and has done that type of penalty before then I say fair enough but I will be telling him not to be doing that in semi-finals or finals."
Stubbs says he would have been surprised if Cummings had opted not to take a penalty in the shootout, despite his earlier miss.
"If Jason had said no my jaw would have dropped," he added. "I would have been completely surprised. Nothing fazes him. The only thing I was maybe concerned about is that he was starting to cramp up.
"But not for one second after that whistle had gone did I ever think he was not going to take a penalty. I can't question him. He has bundles of personality and character."
Stubbs was also full of praise for debutant goalkeeper Conrad Logan, who made a number of key saves, including two in the penalty shootout, to help his side to victory.
"At the end of the game we were walking off and he thanked me," said Stubbs."It was the other way round, I was thanking him. He was obviously thanking me for going with him.
"It wasn't an easy decision because I could have easily gone with Otso [Virtanen] but my gut call was made with what I had seen.
"He is a really good communicator and as a defender I can relate to that. He is a big unit. Obviously he hasn't played for a while and I got asked if I was concerned.
"It is different with goalkeepers, they don't run or cover anywhere near the same distance as outfield players.
"So that didn't concern me. He has looked sharp in training and he used his experience and that is probably why I went with him today."
"It's like a fairytale and I'm just delighted it went so well," said Logan.
"I'm very emotional because it's been so long since I played and to come back and be given the opportunity in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, I feel proud for my family and everyone who has stuck by me. I'm grateful to the manager for bringing me up here."
Hibernian will now face the winner of Sunday's Glasgow derby between Celtic and Rangers in next month's final back at the national stadium.
