Byline: By GAVIN BERRY
IT should have been one of the most memorable days of Joe Hamill's career as Leicester dumped Spurs in an FA Cup thriller.
But instead the little Livingston winger looks back on it as a NIGHTMARE.
The First Division Foxes had stunned their Premiership opponents by battling back from two down at home to carve out a dramatic 3-2 win.
It was to prove one of the few high spots of Craig Levein's time in charge of the Midlands club.
But the memory of that fantastic fightback was soured for Hamill who had followed former gaffer Levein from Hearts to the Walkers Stadium.
The wide man was forced to watch most of the action from the dug-out after being hooked 10 minutes before half-time with Spurs only leading 1-0.
Hamill was told by his boss it was for tactical reasons but that didn't soften the blow for the youngster who watched former Jambos team-mate MarkDe Vries score a last-gasp winner.
Former Rangers midfielder Stephen Hughes was also on the mark for City.
Hamill was to play just one more game for the club and has returned to Scotland where he is now looking to make an impression with Livi.
And he will be striving for another big-game shock when the Lions bid to bounce SPL champs Celtic out of the Scottish Cup in an intriguing fourth round tie.
Hamill recalled: 'It was a great night for Leicester but for me it went in one ear and out of the other because I was raging at being taken off.
'I was told it was tactical but I don't know. I wasn't happy but it was some occasion.
'Big Mark was brilliant and got the winner. We didn't go out specifically to stop Tottenham. We just went out and played.
'Unfortunately for me it only lasted about half an hour but it worked out for the team.
'It would be great to experience something similar today. We're not out to prove anything just because the cameras are here. We just want to show we are a decent side. We haven't clicked this season and that's down to not taking our chances.
'I'm as guilty as anyone because I've missed a few. It's a shame because we can play.
'On our day we can compete with any team.'
Things have not gone to plan for Livi in the league this season as they struggle to live up to their tag as one of the title favourites.
And Hamill reckons a big cup tie is the perfect distraction. He said: 'We've been struggling in the league and because of that we haven't allowed ourselves to think about the cup until now.
'It's a massive game though and now the squad is really focused on it.
'It's nice to just get away from the pressures of the league and who knows? Maybe we can put a cup run together.
'We would never say we're going to beat Celtic but we want to at least give them a game.
'If we can get in about them and get on the ball we can hopefully cause them problems.'
And Livi gaffer John Roberston reckons his strugglers can help wipe out the misery of their home record this season in just 90 minutes against the Hoops.
The Almondvale side have won just three games on their own patch in the league this season - a major factor in a dismal First Division campaign.
Robbo (right) believes being the SPL drop-outs has contributed to their downfall, with teams looking to take a big scalp.
But the roles will be reversed this afternoon when Celtic roll in to town - and he wants his troops to take advantage of that.
He said: 'Our results at home in the league have been disappointing this season.
'However, a victory over Celtic in the cup could go a long way to wiping out those memories.
'The fact we've come down from the SPL and being seen as the scalp to take has been our problem at home.
'We have a lovely stadium, a great pitch and nice dressing-rooms and teams seem to get a lift from that. Some of the visiting sides have come and sat in and frustrated us.
'Unfortunately we've not had the guile to break them down and hit them where it hurts.
'But this is the first game where we've been the underdogs at home because we're always expected to win.
'It's good for the club to be back in the spotlight thanks to this cup tie.
'Any team that drops into the First Division finds it difficult because you're used to the exposure you get in the SPL. It's hard and you look to get a good cup run or create cup shocks to try to keep the club's profile high.
'That's what this tie gives us, although as a manager it's not ideal. I would rather have had a slightly easier team at home to try to progress as far as possible.
'But once the draw's made you cope with it.
'Celtic have lost to Inverness twice in previous years and Clyde last season so it shows on the day we can knock them out.'
CAPTION(S):
Liv-wire Joe: Livingston dynamo Hamill gets in to the thick of the action against former Clyde star Eddie Malone in a league game; Out-Foxed: Joe Hamill nicks the ball off Jermain Jenas in Leicester's stunning FA Cup win over sick Spurs
