Fever pitch at Easter Road will be a relief to Hearts after turf time
RareLy in the history of the edinburgh derby can a team have harboured such a mixture of relief and delight at the prospect of heading into enemy territory.
But being pitched into battle against city foes Hibs at easter road in the Scottish Cup on Wednesday night comes as welcome respite f or Hearts players fed up with a Tynecastle turf that is unfit for purpose.
after a slow start under Ian Cathro, the Gorgie outfit had looked as though they were going through the gears nicely.
But landing an exciting young coach, whose teams play out from the back, and asking them to perform on such a muddy field, is akin to hiring Lewis Hamilton as a chauffeur and kitting him out with a clown car.
It was certainly comical on Saturday when young substitute rory Currie fresh-air kicked a shot at goal and landed, embarrassed, in a crumpled heap.
But the Hearts f ans were definitely not amused with each misplaced pass along a desperate surface, most notably by jittery goalkeeper Jack Hamilton.
It’s no surprise the Gorgie side are set to lay a new temporary pitch in time for the visit of ross County a week on Wednesday — ahead of a proposed £1million hybrid surface being installed in the summer — after failing to beat rock-bottom Inverness, who have not won in 14 matches.
But for Greece international alex Tziolis, one of many in maroon who expressed frustration about the Tynecastle pitch, the prospect of playing at easter road in Wednesday’s replay is an enticing one after this recent draw and the dismal 0-0 derby cup tie the previous Sunday.
‘I don’t know if you can see it on television but our pitch is really bad,’ sighed Tziolis.
‘It is difficult to play on. We have good players who can play good football but we didn’t play good football in our last two games at home because it is not easy.
‘you have to be ten times more careful when passing the ball. you know you have to be ready to help out your team-mate. That is in your mind. But the pitch will be better on Wednesday, so that will help us.
‘But we also have to stop these excuses because the pitch won’t change. I think getting it fixed in the summer will be the solution.
‘So we have to find a way to play better and get better results. Sometimes we have to change, like by going straight into attack. But we can’t change the whole philosophy of the team and the coach to one that does not suit us.’
Inverness stunned Tynecastle when Greg Tansey flighted a free-kick into the box and Carl Tremarco was c ompletely unmarked to head the ball home.
Despite dominating, Hearts lacked conviction, although Bjorn Johnsen hit the bar with a deflected shot and esmael Goncalves smacked a post with a volley.
It was left to arnaud Djoum, on his return f rom winning the african Cup of nations with Cameroon, to level the match when he volleyed in a cross from captain Perry Kitchen.
and after Caley Thistle’s ross Draper hit the post with a header, Hearts had the chance to win the match when Draper felled Djoum in the box, only for substitute Jamie Walker to see his spot-kick saved by Owain Fon Williams.
Defeat to Hibs on Wednesday night would see renewed scrutiny on Cathro but Hearts believe they can dump out the cup holders.
‘everyone is disappointed. This was a result that nobody wanted,’ admitted Tziolis. ‘But we have to live with this and continue into Wednesday.
‘The derby will be difficult but we go there to win. For us, there is no other result.
‘I enjoyed that first game against Hibs but I only care about winning, nothing else.
‘I’ve been aware of the rivalry between Hearts and Hibs from the first day I arrived here.
‘I can’t say we are favourites. But we have a good team and I hope on Wednesday night we can give our fans happiness.’
after earning a point, visiting boss richie Foran rightly praised the return of ‘the old, fighting Inverness’.
next up for the Premiership’s bottom side is the visit up the a9 of troubled rangers next Friday night. It is a fixture defender Jamie mcCart, who is on loan from Celtic, is desperate to experience.
‘This was probably what we needed ahead of a tough game against rangers,’ said mcCart, the son of Celtic academy boss and former motherwell defender Chris. ‘ I’ m grateful f or the opportunity Inverness have given me as playing at Tynecastle is a more hostile environment than I am used to in t he Celtic Under-20s.
‘If I get the nod against rangers that will be another experience.
‘I don’t think the table shows our true quality. results haven’t gone our way but we’ve showed we can match the teams at the top.’