Cathro hits back at Holt over comments

IAN CATHRO, the Hearts head coach, has hit back at Hibernian striker Grant Holt by insisting his side will welcome the pressure of Sunday’s Edinburgh derby showdown.

The experienced front man, currently with the Easter Road club, started the fun and games ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie at Tynecastle by questioning how the home side would handle their tag of favourites when the city rivals meet one another for the first time in a year.

Ahead of the fifth round tie, which could well be one of the games of this season, Holt said: “We will see how they like the pressure”, while he suggested their recent 4-1 win over Rangers was simply down to the Ibrox men being abject.

Asked about the comments from the Hibs camp, Cathro queried the motives behind those comments, while claiming he has assembled a squad who will lap up the cauldron of derby day in the capital.

He said: “There can be a lot of reasons for that type of comment to be made.

“Is the pressure on us? That would be good. I’m happy to have it all and I think my players would be happy with that too, so we’ll take that pressure.

“I want these challenges and I want to bring players here that feel the same way. We have a squad that wants pressure, that enjoys the need to win.

“We understand that the game means more to people and is more memorable and we respect that and like it. We enjoy the fact it adds pressure.

“Everything is that little bit louder this week. But we enjoy that and, while our actual day-to-day will be pretty normal, we all enjoy big matches and relish that.”

Hibs legend Jackie McNamara believes his old club can win promotion and go on a cup run.

He said: “If you’re a Hibs supporter you want to beat Hearts, that’s the way it is.

“I’m sure the most important thing in everyone’s minds is the league but I don’t even think they’ll think about that on Sunday. The atmosphere will get to them as well. As long as they play the game and not the occasion I would be quite confident.”