CATHRO HITS BOOS
Ian Cathro refused to hit out at Hearts fans who booed his decisions and his team on his home debut as boss.
The Jambos gaffer suffered a baptism of fire. Held 1-1 by Partick after losing his first game to Rangers a week
previously, Cathro had to listen to booing as he made late substitutions and replaced fans’ favourites Bjorn Johnsen and Jamie Walker.
Robbie Neilson’s successor and the team were also booed at the full-time whistle as Thistle took a point. But Cathro insists he understood the frustrations and said: “I think we all feel the same reaction. I can’t boo because I have to try to find the solution.
“Players, staff, fans, our reaction is the same, we feel the same thing. That is an understandable thing. We just have to stay together on that, which we will, there’s no doubt.
“It’s a natural reaction, isn’t it? We didn’t get we wanted, so we’re not happy. I didn’t get what I wanted, I’m not happy.
“The players didn’t get what they wanted so they’re not happy. It’s just the voicing of that and that’s normal.
“If we reach a point down the line where everyone is fine with us drawing games at home I’d be more upset.
“I don’t want us ever to be fine with that and we’re not fine with this.
“But what do we do? We finish this, we go back through the game and we work and work. That’s the responsibility.”
Cathro’s team were shaken out their comfort zone by Thistle but the boss is adamant his team will not get involved in scraps and will look to win by using his footballing philosophy.
He added: “There is always that aspect of the nature of the game here, the culture of the game.
“But there is always one team leading the game. If you’re leading the game you get to determine the flow and the rhythm. We were able to do that in small parts but we were able to do it and that’s a positive.”
Asked if he’d ever send his players out to try to stop the other team playing, Cathro said: “I don’t think that will ever be the case.
“I’ll never believe football to be that way.”