I was in the players’ lounge at Hampden after the League Cup Final in 2013 and I looked over at Gary Locke and Billy Brown and had tears in my eyes.
Losing to St Mirren was devastating but it wasn’t the personal heartache that got to me. It was seeing what the manager and his no.2 had put in and feeling we’d let them down. We owed them that trophy and we’d come up short.
That was a painful experience and it’s something I hope the current Hearts team can avoid this season.
But the squad is in the same position right now. They have four games that will make or break their season and the OWE it to Neil Critchely to do the business.
I admit I was skeptical when the manager came in. It was a case of wait and see but you have to look at where the club was when he came in to where they are now.
He’s done a sensational job. Yes, the last couple of derbies have hurt badly. But, bigger picture, Hearts can seal their place in the top six in the remaining matches to the split and then claim a spot in the Scottish Cup Final.
A campaign that could have been a total nightmare could turn out to be something special. If Critchley can bag top six, finish above Hibs and get into Europe and then win the cup, there will be a statue outside Tynecastle.
Whether or not they get the chance to shoot for those targets depends on the next couple of weeks.
An entire season boils down to these next four games. Celtic at Parkhead, Dundee United and then Motherwell before the split, then Aberdeen at Hampden in the Scottish Cup.
This is what it’s all about. It’s make or break time but everyone at Hearts shouldn’t be daunted – they should be excited.
A few months ago they were staring down the barrel at a relegation battle. Now it’s all to play for.
The important thing is keeping it that way because the last thing they want right now is the campaign to just peter out.
I’ll tell you, it’s a horrible feeling seeing out a season with nothing to play for. It’s not worth even contemplating.
Look at the flip side though. There’s a chance to go to Celtic and put on a right good performance and maybe even get a result. What a boost that would be and then there’s an opportunity to reel in Dundee United and then end Motherwell’s chances of knocking Hearts out of the top six.
Listen, it might only take a couple of points to seal it, but they shouldn’t be thinking that way.
They should be thinking about getting top six as soon as possible – then setting their sights on Hibs.
I can’t think of a better incentive for the rest of the season than beating the rivals in the last derby of the season and then finishing above them. Add in the Scottish Cup and it could be magical.
Celtic is a tough one to start, we know that. They are on the back of losing to Rangers and there might be a reaction.
It’s also after an international break and it’s always tough to get back into a rhythm after the layoff.
Rangers have also shown Hearts the blueprint how to get at them. Everyone knows Hearts’ record against the Old Firm – and Gers in particular – has been abysmal.
But this is another opportunity to do something about it. There shouldn’t be any fear going there.
In the last few Old Firm games Rangers have got in their faces and unsettled the midfield, shaking them out of their comfort zone.
That’s what Hearts need to do as well. Beni Baningime has been superb of late and he will have a huge role to play, along with the other boys in the engine room.
There’s been a great response to the defeat at Easter Road and it’s not time to get the foot down.
There won’t be any need to pick up young James Wilson either. I know it was pretty miserable for Scotland the other night but it was still a major occasion for the kid getting his first cap.
You can’t take this stuff for granted. He became Scotland’s youngster cap in the modern era and that is an incredible achievement, even if it was a late cameo.
Millions of people would have given anything to get on the pitch for the national team – me included.
Wilson has a taste now, and what an incentive to keep progressing and developing. I was thrilled Steve Clarke chucked him in and it was a proud moment for the player, his family and for Hearts.
He should enjoy the moment and use it as fuel for the coming weeks, months and years.
Wilson is allowed to imagine what the future holds and the same goes for Hearts in the next couple of weeks. It’s been a tough road to get here but get the job done and there’s no need to worry about the season ending in tears.