Keeper hoping Rovers can take advantage of ghostly Tynecastle

Jamie MacDonald hopes Raith Rovers can benefit from a “strange” Tynecastle in tonight’s Betfred Cup clash with Hearts.

The former Jambos number one insists his old club should not be “anywhere near ” the Championship this season given their resources both on and off the pitch.

But the 34-year-old is relishing an early opportunity to pit his wits against the overwhelming secondtier f av o u r i t e s when Rovers travel across the Forth for their Group A encounter.

It is a stadium he knows well from more than 130 games for Hearts and he hopes the lack of the usual electric atmosphere can help his current side.

He said: “Usually it’s quite an exciting place to go and play, especially for away players. It can be quite hostile, with 15,000 or 16,000 – and the rest now with the new main stand.

“It will be strange to go there when it’s empty, but hopefully we can use it to our advantage.

“There will be some boys who have maybe never played in that sort of environment before, and it can be quite daunting.

“So, hopefully with the crowd not being there, it’s something we go and handle really well, and hopefully we can pick up points.”

Raith boss John McGlynn, the former Hearts manager, looks unlikely to be at Ty n e c a s t l e after undergoing a routine operation on Sunday.

But, after kicking off their competitive action with a 2-1 victory over derby rivals East Fife on Saturday, MacDonald is hopeful Rovers can pull off a shock to provide their gaffer with a pickme-up, and optimism for the league campaign.

The former Kilmarnock and Fa l k i r k keeper added: “Hearts, with the squad they’ve got and the players they’ve got, realistically shouldn’t be anywhere near this league.

“But they are, and all the other clubs in the Championship are going to have to step up. It’s going to be difficult, they ’re going to be overwhelming favourites.

“But, with our starting 11, you’d like to think we could go there and have a good go.”