UNDER SIEGE
We know people want Hearts to lose but we are up for the fight, says embattled boss Cathro
UNLIKE the bulldozers which continue to manoeuvre outside Tynecastle’s main stand, it takes a lot to knock down the management and players at Hearts.
While progress is being made in the construction of the new building project at the famous old stadium, there are more than a few signs that things are starting to crumble on the pitch now that the heat has been turned up.
Sam Nicholson’s decision to spit towards a linesman during the midweek loss at St Johnstone did little to aid Ian Cathro as he attempts to steer the Gorgie side’s campaign back on track. With just five wins in 19 games in charge and his team sitting fifth in the Premiership, the 30-year-old has attracted his fair share of critics.
However, it has reached the stage where Cathro believes those critics are enjoying seeing Hearts suffer. That they revel in such misfortune.
For the head coach, he is quite happy to accept the challenge of sealing positive results, which continues with today’s home clash against Dundee, and proving people wrong.
‘I think this is probably a situation for the last little while that there might be more people than normal keen for this club to lose,’ said Cathro. ‘Anybody choosing to do that has probably picked the wrong people and wrong club to go at.
‘We’re very strong together and very focused on doing what we do. To try and rock a club like this, which has had darker days and been saved by incredibly passionate, loyal and powerful fans, it is unlikely for that to succeed.
‘For that being the case, I’m quite happy to accept that and say: “Come on”. If there are more people than normal wanting to see us lose, come on, we’ll fight through that.’
Cathro understands his team will receive criticism for a poor run of form. Asked to clarify why he believes people want to see his team fail, he replied: ‘I think there are more people than normal willing for Hearts not to win. We need to use that to add strength to us and it will.
‘We’re on a run of results which is unacceptable to this club and the criticism and the frustration of the fans is something we understand. I understand — I accept.
‘That’s the bit that’s real, it hurts. That’s the responsibility of me and us, as well. What I say to them is we understand that we’re incredibly privileged to be at a club which has this level of support and power.
‘It’s up to us to make sure we move forward as quickly as possible and we give them reasons to start to look forward, as well.
‘We can only do that through games and results. It has to be on a game-by-game basis and we have to start doing it.
‘It’s important people know there are strong people here, so don’t worry too much about that.’
Eyebrows were raised when the young coach brought in nine new faces to his squad in January. They’ve failed to gel and now must produce the goods as Hearts aim to catch — first and foremost — fourth-placed St Johnstone, who sit five points ahead.
Celtic partied on the Tynecastle turf last Sunday after securing their sixth successive Premiership title. Neither Hearts nor Dundee are in a celebratory mood given their recent form.
Ninth-placed Dundee travel to Edinburgh today on the back of a 7-0 thumping at Dens Park against Aberdeen and a last-gasp loss at Ross County on Tuesday.
Hearts dare not contemplate losing against Paul Hartley’s men.
Cathro remains committed to the cause and has no regrets over his activity in the transfer window.
‘A lot has happened due to different circumstances,’ he said. ‘Some players have been lost through injury and the way some games have gone.
‘The changes in January were essential because of the squad numbers. We can’t forget we were a very light squad and because of some individual things, it was right to move some out and others in.
‘Yeah, there have been a lot of changes and that brings an extra challenge but you don’t get to control how things start. You are just ready and good to go, and you deal with what comes because that is what happens in this game.
‘There is never a smooth time. If you take, say, a five-year period, then over that time you are going to have moments like these four months. For me, they have come at the start so, okay, it needs dealt with but then we move forward as quickly as possible.
‘I look forward to quickly allowing the fans to remove some doubts and become willing to look forward to what I believe we are capable of giving them.’