Ian Cathro: Hearts have no choice but to win on Wednesday

Hearts head coach Ian Cathro watched his side draw with Raith Rovers on Sunday afternoon. Picture: SNS

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The Jambos face the Fifers for a second time in four days after letting victory slip through their fingers during Sunday’s William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round clash at Stark’s Park.

Jamie Walker fired the Gorgie men ahead but they failed to build on their advantage, allowing Declan McManus to nod home the goal which gives Rovers a second shot in the Tynecastle replay.

It was another set-back for Cathro, who has just one win from his first six games in charge.

And he gave a stark warning to his team, saying: “We don’t have a choice now. We must win on Wednesday, there’s no alternative as far as I’m concerned.”

Cathro handed debuts to new signings Aaron Hughes, Malaury Martin, Lennard Sowah and Andraz Struna.

But despite a disappointing result against the Ladbrokes Championship outfit, he was happy with what he saw.

“There were good bits down to our work,” he said. “The addition of the new players added to the side, in terms of quality, and we had to defend a lot of set pieces, but we didn’t defend all of them well enough.

“The new players will show their qualities in the next weeks and months as they get used to each other, and the way we want them to play.”

Rovers boss Gary Locke will now return to a ground where he has served as both club captain and manager.

And he hopes his side can turn the famously hostile Tynecastle atmosphere against the hosts.

“I’m well aware of how it can be there - I’ve been on the end of it a few times,” joked Locke. “It’s a great place to play when things are going for you but when things are not going for you it can be difficult.

“We’ve got to go with the same belief we had on Sunday and if we do that we’ll have a chance of winning.”

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