WE CAN WIN IT - POSPISIL

By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

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Hearts striker Michal Pospisil is backing his team-mates to emulate the Tennent's Scottish Cup winners of 1998.

The Bank of Scotland Premier League second-placed side have been installed as favourites for the cup after Rangers followed Celtic out of the competition with the Ibrox defeat by Hibernian.

Goals from Pospisil, Calum Elliot and a Steven Pressley penalty against Aberdeen sealed the Jambos' passage to a quarter-final visit of Inverness or Partick.

But, after joining the Edinburgh club from Slovan Liberec in the summer, the Czech Republic man has found himself surrounded by constant memories of the 1998 cup final win.

Former boss Jim Jefferies engineered the 2-1 win over Rangers - Hearts' last piece of silverware.

But the 26-year-old admits the absence of the Old Firm has helped his team but he eyes the continued presence of Edinburgh rivals, Hibernian, in the cup with interest.

Pospisil said: "We're in the quarter-final and have more chance of winning the cup now because Celtic and Rangers are out.

"They are big teams and for me it doesn't matter when we get Hibs but in the final would be nice.

"We have a good draw and are expecting to get Inverness even though they will have to go to Partick for a replay. But we are confident of beating anybody at home.

"I have experience of winning the Czech cup final with Viktoria Zizkov in 2001 when we beat Sparta Prague in the final and I scored in the semi.

"But it is important to win the cup this season, so we can go on to play in the UEFA Cup at least.

"I have seen the pictures of when the team last won the cup in 1999 and everybody was happy.

"There were lots of people of Princes Street in the city centre and winning the trophy this year would make us heroes."

Meanwhile, Aberdeen striker Stevie Crawford has accused linesman Neil Brand of changing his mind over a crucial decision in the Dons' cup exit at Tynecastle.

With Hearts 1-0 up, the Scotland international appeared to be fouled in the area by Andy Webster.

Manager Jimmy Calderwood felt the defender could have been sent off as well as conceding a penalty.

Crawford said: "The referee (Kenny Clark) said his view was blocked which can happen. Being a referee is not an easy thing to do.

"But the linesman had two different stories. He said I played for the penalty, but told the referee he never saw it.

"I don't see any reason why I should have gone down in the box if I was ready to score, but his arm was around my waist.

"If they had gone down to 10 men, then it would have been a different story, but we were 3-0 down at half-time with only 10 men."

Elliot doubled Hearts' advantage before the officials courted further controversy.

Clark and assistant Jim Lyon adjudged Zander Diamond had fouled Pospisil inside the area and awarded a penalty - converted by Pressley - and then sent off the defender.

Crawford added: "To be honest, I didn't have a great view of that, but, from the reaction of the players, it was a bit harsh."

Taken from sportinglife.com