THAT 40-YEAR ITCH LINGERS

IT'S still the worst day of Gary Mackay's footballing life.

- BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

A single point - and just seven minutes away from a Premiership title before a famous Albert Kidd double at Dens Park killed off Hearts’ hopes of being champions and gave Celtic the league flag.

Now, 40 years later, a younger generation of Jambos are daring to dream again.

With Derek McInnes' side top of the table at the turn of the year, they believe they can win it. But Mackay admits for older supporters who lived through the pain of 1986, they'll never take anything for granted.

The Tynecastle legend is as excited as any Hearts fan about what the current crop could achieve this season.

But having played at Dens that day, and got so close, Mackay is also refusing to get carried away.

In '86, the Gorgie side just needed a draw against Dundee on the last day of the campaign to secure the championship.