Why it is just unthinkable for Cathro to blow it again
FOOTBALL fans will put up with plenty in the name of loyalty. But even the most dedicated devotee has a breaking point.
If in doubt, ask your favourite Hearts supporter for a polite breakdown on the current state of their patience.
Tomorrow night at Tynecastle, Ian Cathro’s team — and it is his team now, four new signings, warts and all — will welcome Raith Rovers for a Scottish Cup fourth-round replay with the potential to define more than just this season.
Should the home side play in the same lacklustre style that saw them blow a 1-0 lead in the final minute of Sunday’s draw at Stark’s Park, they could easily lose to visitors from the middle of the Championship pack.
Unforgivable? With the prize of a home tie against Hibs awaiting the winners, it is absolutely unthinkable that Hearts should mess this one up.
The chance to knock the holders out of the Scottish Cup in front of a baying full house, avenging last season’s almost inexplicable slip-up against their old rivals, simply cannot be allowed to pass.
If they don’t even make it to derby day, Cathro — with one win in his opening six matches at the helm — will become an even easier target for the critics just waiting for him to fail.
What he and Hearts have going for them is, at least off the field, a refusal to panic.
Working the problem is a big thing for the rookie head coach, who had to just tweak yesterday’s planned training session in order to cope with the ‘crazy’ decision to squeeze the replay in this midweek.
According to Hearts centre-half John Souttar, the new manager — familiar to the ex-Dundee United player as his youth coach back in primary school — is patiently getting his message across.
Asked if he thought Cathro had changed since their previous work together, Souttar declared: ‘That’s a long time ago. It was about ten years ago. We were kids. It’s a lot different coaching Under-11s and coaching a first team.
‘That doesn’t matter at all. He’s my gaffer and that’s all I see him as. His influence is getting through.
‘He’s got his ideas — and we have to just put them on the pitch and turn them into results.
‘I don’t think the winter break was a factor at the weekend. We started the game well.
‘I thought we started it sharper. Training has been very intense, so it’s not like we’ve had that much of a rest. We’ve got back into it quickly.
‘We’ve been doing a lot of double sessions. So I wouldn’t say that’s to blame at all. I just think it’s so disappointing, as you can probably tell, conceding that late goal.
‘We just need to go out on Wednesday and get the win.
‘We went to Kirkcaldy to get the win and didn’t do it, but we’re still in the Cup, so we need to go and win it on Wednesday. But absolutely, it’s frustrating that we didn’t hold on for the win.’
The Hearts players had initially complained about offside at the Raith equaliser, Souttar claiming referee John Beaton originally told them that Declan McManus hadn’t touched the ball. He did, but was clearly being played onside.
‘It feels like a defeat because it was so late,’ confessed the defender.
‘We just need to keep the heads up and get a win on Wednesday.’
Raith hero McManus, meanwhile, admitted he was worried when Beaton went to consult his assistant following the last-minute leveller, explaining: ‘When I first scored, I had no doubt in my mind I was onside.
‘But when I saw all the Hearts boys run over to the assistant, I did get a wee bit nervous, to be honest.
‘Then the ref looked as if he was questioning it.
‘I’ve seen the video again and I’m obviously not offside, so I’m delighted with that.
‘It just cuts Hearts’ excuse out a wee bit that there shouldn’t be a replay.
‘There most definitely should for the performance the boys put in.
‘We can definitely give them a game at Tynecastle. We dominated for large parts of the second half at home.
‘If we go and play the exact same way at Tynecastle, I’m pretty sure that they are not going to like it.
‘It’s a big crowd there, but it’s also a tight pitch — and, if we get in their faces as we did on Sunday, then anything can happen.’