The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hibs looking for more of the same in derby replay
SCOTTISH CUP: McGinn feels holders will be boosted by last season’s meetings
Hibernian midfielder John McGinn believes their experience of winning last year’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road will stand them in good stead for tonight’s visit of Hearts.
Hibs triumphed 1-0 against Hearts on their way to winning the William Hill Scottish Cup and again face their city rivals in a replay this week.
Hearts had nine players making their derby debuts in the goalless draw at Tynecastle, but they now have to play at Easter Road and McGinn feels last season’s victory will help his squad.
“I’m sure it will,” the former St Mirren player said.
“It’s scary the way football works. When I signed here I might not have had an Edinburgh derby but two years in a row we had an away draw and a replay. I’m glad it’s happened, they are really good games to play in.
“I think I’m more ready for it now. You just let the build-up go over your head and concentrate on the football. It’s a bit frantic but you can play your football eventually.
“It’s heartbreaking when you lose a goal because you know pelters are coming your way. But you learn to experience the ups and downs. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions.
“You can’t let the occasion pass you by because it’s games like this you want to make a name for yourself in.
“You don’t want the whistle to go and regret that you didn’t turn up. It’s important for players like myself, players that can influence the result, it’s important we turn up and make a name for ourselves.”
Hearts midfielder Don Cowie is looking for the Gorgie club to make an impact on the senior cup competitions having gone five years since winning the Scottish Cup.
The 34-year-old joined the Jambos just over a year ago from Wigan and was in the side which went out to their Edinburgh rivals last season.
He said: “It’s important for all of us, a club of our size we need to be challenging for trophies, getting to semi-finals and finals.
“There’s extra motivation with it being against your rivals and what’s it means to everybody in the city, but we need to start challenging to win trophies. We want to be in Europe.
“This club is on the way up, between the training aground and the stadium, everything is geared towards us being successful and we need to do that on the pitch as well. “It’s a big game, it’s going to be fierce. “They’ve shown that they’re capable of beating Premiership teams, they’ve done it countless times, and we’re well aware of that. I just feel that if we play to our best, we’ve got better players.”