Robbo: we owe it to the fans

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss John Robertson today urged his players to book their place in the semi-finals of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup with victory over Livingston, telling them: "You owe it to the fans."

The Gorgie gaffer was furious with the team’s display in last week’s 2-0 defeat from Motherwell at Fir Park, freely admitting to having been "embarrassed" by the performance.

The Jambos have the opportunity to atone for that loss tomorrow when they welcome the Lions to the Capital and Robertson has demanded his men return to winning ways and book their place in the last four of the competition.

"We let the fans down badly at Motherwell and it’s up to the players to make it up to them tomorrow," he said. "There was a terrific support through at Fir Park and what they saw was just not good enough. The team has set certain standards over the past couple of years and that performance was nowhere near what they are capable of.

"They know that and they know they owe the supporters a performance against Livingston.

"It is another huge game for us and I’m looking for a big improvement from the guys."

Although it was the Gorgie outfit’s first league defeat of 2005, the fans were leaving in their droves long before the final whistle in Lanarkshire.

"They had every right to be angry after what they saw," said Robertson. "But tomorrow is another game, the players have looked good in training this week and they are desperate to get through to another semi-final."

The Hearts boss will avoid the temptation to ring the changes after the Fir Park debacle, preferring instead to hand his players a second chance against Richard Gough’s outfit.

With Steven Pressley suspended, there will be one enforced change at the back, although the skipper’s absence will be offset somewhat by the return of his Scotland team-mate Andy Webster, who completed a two-match league ban last weekend.

"I don’t see the need for wholesale changes," said Robertson.

"Last week is finished with and just because they have had one bad performance doesn’t mean they have become bad players.

"They want to make amends and their attitude this week has been first class. They will have to be focused as it is going to be a difficult match for us as Livingston will be a tough nut to crack. But they are itching to show Motherwell was a one-off performance."

Robertson cut his coaching teeth at Almondvale after leaving Hearts as a player in 1998 but there will be no room for sentiment tomorrow afternoon.

"They have a band of tremendously loyal people working for them and I hope everything gets sorted out for the club," he said.

"I met a lot of good people there but tomorrow I have to do what is best for Hearts Football Club and that is winning.

"By all accounts, Livingston struggled to beat Alloa in the last round but they got through and will be looking to beat us.

"But we have to go out there tomorrow and show the confidence and ability we have and win this cup tie."

Robertson refused to be drawn on reports linking him with a move for Lions star David McNamee, the defender having been widely tipped to move to Gorgie in the summer.

Taken from the Scotsman