Robbo tells Jambos to keep focus

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS boss John Robertson today warned his players to put all thoughts of reaching the CIS Cup final to the back of their minds and focus firmly on tonight’s quarter-final clash with Dunfermline.

With the Old Firm also meeting in the last eight of the competition this evening, a side outwith the Glasgow giants is guaranteed to contest the showpiece match in March.

You have to go back more than six years for the Jambos’ last appearance in a final when they beat Rangers 2-1 in the Scottish Cup to end a 42-year wait for silverware.

Robertson was part of the squad that day, as he was the last time the Tynecastle team reached the final of tonight’s competition two years earlier.

And while he would love to lead out Hearts at Hampden next year he is well ware of the dangers of looking too far ahead.

"I’m not concerned with any other game bar the Dunfermline match," he said.

"We have a terrifically difficult tie and Hearts always get it tough at Dunfermline. We’ve already lost there in the league so that in itself should be a big enough spur for the players.

"Ourselves and Dunfermline both have a chance to reach a semi-final and if you can do that it gives your season a tremendous focus.

"Whoever wins this tie can then look forward to a semi-final in February which will kick-start the second half of the league campaign.

"But we know that we’ll have to be at our best to come through the game and have to focus entirely on it."

Robertson is aware the Gorgie club have under-performed in this competition in recent years but he insists that past competitions will have no bearing on tonight’s match.

"It’s a trophy that Hearts have not done terrifically well in over the years for whatever reason," he admitted.

"But that’s not to say we can’t do well. It’s a chance for the players to reach the semi-finals of the competition and when you are in the last four anything is possible.

"Every player in that dressing-room has a desire to try and win things and I’m sure that by the time tonight comes we will be ready to try and take another step forward."

Taken from the Scotsman