Scottish Cup crowd boost for Hearts

HEARTS are anticipating their biggest cup crowd of the season this weekend with over 10,000 supporters expected to attend the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against St Mirren at Tynecastle.

Ticket sales have increased following last weekend’s SPL victory at Ibrox and the signing of Scotland international striker Craig Beattie. The match will be televised live by BBC Scotland but Hearts supporters are keen to attend their club’s first Scottish Cup quarter-final in six years.

Officials at Tynecastle are hopeful that the crowd will be in excess of 10,000, with tickets available up until kick-off at 12.30pm. Paulo Sergio, the Hearts manager, has issued a rallying call to supporters to get behind his team.

“The fans have been great all season and we really appreciate their backing,” he said. “This is a big game for us and it would be great if there was a big crowd inside the stadium to get behind the players again.”

Andy Driver, who is expected to start the match, believes Hearts are overdue progress to the latter stages of the Scottish Cup. The winger broke into the team following the 2006 final win against Gretna and since then the Edinburgh club have failed to make it beyond the fifth round.

“Looking at the stats from the years since we won the cup, this is by far the best we’ve done since. I might be a jinx,” joked Driver. “Hopefully at the weekend we can break that jinx and get to a semi-final.”

Whether it is via cup success or league placing, Driver is eager for Hearts to reach the qualifying stages of next season’s Europa League. “With the uncertainty which is surrounding Rangers, if we go on a good run between now and the end of the season then we have a good chance of achieving Europe,” he said.

“We’ve seen what a buzz that can bring to the club, with Tottenham coming earlier on this season. So we’ve got plenty to look forward to toward the end of the season.”

Tickets for Hearts v St Mirren can be purchased from the Hearts Clubstore on McLeod Street, by calling 0871 663 1874 (option 1), or online at Hearts eTickets.

Prices are as follows: £25 per adult, £15 per over-65/student, £10 per under-18 and £5 for accompanied under-12s when bought before 11.59pm on Friday night. As of midnight on Friday prices increase to £30 per adult, £20 per over-65/student, £15 per under-18 and £10 for accompanied under-12s.