Hearts turn to cup for solace

Rob Robertson

11 May 1998

Hearts ........ 2 Dunfermline .. 0

HEARTS veterans Dave McPherson and John Robertson last night turned their attention to the cup final against Rangers and talked of the lift their club would receive from their performance against Dunfermline.

From Robertson's point of view he was unclear whether the match against Dunfermline was the last he would play at Tynecastle for the club he had loyally served for 18 years.

He admitted that it had crossed his mind that his part in their 2-0 victory could be his last hurrah at the ground.

''I'm playing each game as if it is my last as I haven't been told one way or another what is happening,'' said Robertson, who played in a deeper role for Hearts in the hole behind the front men.

''The manager has bigger priorities with the likes of Paul Ritchie, Steve Fulton, Gary Locke, and he'll get round to me eventually.

''I prefer to look forward to the cup final and hopefully I have done enough to stay in the squad which will bring the silverware back to Edinburgh.

'' Robertson was one of the Hearts success stories on Saturday, as was McPherson, whose runs up the flanks drew Dunfermline defenders allowing more space for Stephane Adam in attack.

McPherson said he believed the Hearts team, playing their third cup final in as many years, had as good a chance as they have ever had of lifting the Scottish Cup.

''Our team is full of confidence and has a good mix of youth and experience.

I don't like saying it, but if we don't do it this season it will be even more difficult in the coming seasons, as Rangers and Celtic will rebuild even stronger for next season.

'' The former Rangers defender said he believed there was no pressure on Hearts to win the trophy.

''Why would there be any pressure on us? Hearts hasn't won anything for years,'' said McPherson.

''If we had won something over the last three or so years the fans would be even more keen for success and want us to build on success.

'' He said that many of his old friends at Rangers, like Richard Gough and Ally McCoist, would be leaving the Ibrox club at the end of the season and would want to bow out with a trophy.

Turning his attention to the last Scottish Cup final between the sides two years ago, which Hearts lost 5-1, McPherson said he was confident the Tynecastle team would not crumble the way they did that day.

''We lost Gary Locke after only seven minutes of that cup final but I feel we are now in a position to bounce back from that sort of problem and it wouldn't have a major effect on the team.

'' As for the Dunfermline match, both sides played it like an end of season game with nothing at stake, allowing players to play open football, hence chances came thick and fast.

From a Dunfermline point of view, both Gerry Britton and Andy Smith had good chances but Gilles Rousset, particularly in the first half, was equal to anything that came his way.

At the other end Ian Westwater also had a string of good stops but could do nothing to stop Adam's first-half goal or the late strike by young Derek Holmes who was playing his first game of the season.

Dunfermline manager Bert Paton had some reservations about his side's performance and said new blood would be brought into the club in the close season.

On the way out of East End Park is Craig Robertson, who has been given a free transfer, and other players set to leave are Raymond Sharp, Scott Young, and Gary Louden.

Paton will begin talks with striker Smith today about a new contract and said so far there had been no outside interest in the player.

Talking point With Craig Brown due to announce his Scottish squad for the World Cup warm-up tour to America on Wednesday, David Weir and Steve Fulton turned in performances which may yet book them a place on the plane.

Manager Jefferies has been praising both players all season and it looks like the pair of them may have timed their runs to perfection in terms of winning their World Cup chance.

Taken from the Herald