That day, Gers fell behind to an early goal, and while Alfredo Morelos found an equaliser, they weren’t able to find a winner – something boss Gerrard put down to his side’s start that day.
He knows it can’t be the same this weekend at the National Stadium as he looks to reach his first cup final as a manager.
Speaking at today’s press conference, the manager said: “Tynecastle was a reminder that you can’t start games of football thinking you can just turn up – I think you have got to go and earn the right.
“The least you can do is match that, certainly in the opening stages. At some stage, of course the game will calm down and we will be able to show our quality but we have to go into this game in a completely different place from a mental point of view.”
Gers were beaten at the semi-final stage last season by Aberdeen on a hugely disappointing day – though Gerrard won’t be referring back to that in the build-up to this Sunday’s meeting.
He added: “It was a setback and it was a blow for us, but I never ever look backwards – I always look forward.
“That was a big setback on the day, but it is gone and there is nothing we can do about it. The only thing we can do and control and focus on is what we can change, and that is the game on Sunday.
“It’s certainly night and day in one department as we have two centre forwards fit and firing and in excellent form.
“But, we have got to go and do our talking on the pitch and we will be set a tough challenge at the weekend.
“Hearts have good players and they will come and compete and they will fight and try to play to their strengths and we need to make sure we are up for that, we compete and show our quality at the right times.
“But we are going into this game in a different place in terms of where the squad is at, and from a belief and a confidence point of view.”