BIGGEST SHOCK I'VE EVER HAD IN THE CUP WAS BEING DROPPED FOR FINAL IN '78 SAYS GRAHAM RIX

GRAHAM RIX knows what it' s like to be on the wrong end of a major cup shock and the Hearts boss has no desire to suffer further heartache against Partick Thistle today.

Twice an FA Cup winner as a coach with Chelsea and once as a player with Arsenal, Rix boasts an impressive CV in knockout competition.

But he suffered the lowest moment of his career 48 hours before Arsenal lost 1-0 to Ipswich in the 1978 FA Cup Final.

The Tynecastle head coach bears the mental scars of his bitterWembley disappointment and almost 30 years later still struggles to accept being bombed from the Gunners line-up.

Rix said: "The biggest shock I got was when Terry Neil left me out two days before the final. That shocked me.

"I played only 37 out of 42 league games that season but never mind. I don't know if that's why we didn't win -you'd have ask to ask Terry that.

"One year I was injured but travelled to the game when Arsenal got knocked out by York. I've tried to erase those shocks from my memory.

"But that's why the Cup is such a great competition - you never know what will happen.

"Everyone expects Hearts to go through against Partick but that's when football has a nasty habit of kicking you where it hurts. We have to make sure that doesn't happen to us."

Rix bounced back from being dropped in '78 to win the FA Cup a year later, setting up Alan Sunderland's winner as Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 in aWembley classic.

And now he's eyeing another cup final glory day - but with nine SPL teams already out Rix knows there is no room for complacency against a Thistle side two divisions below Hearts.

Yet he is also aware that with the Old Firm out, Hearts will never get a better opportunity to repeat their 1998 Scottish Cup triumph.

Expectation is high in the capital but will a Hampden appearance be enough to guarantee Rix, whose contract runs out in May, employment at Tynecastle next season?

He said: "I don't know. You are asking the wrong man. There is still a long way to go and I'm not talking about winning the Cup.

"I'm talking about winning the game against Partick. What I can't control I don't really worry about.

"Everyone here will b e disappointed if it doesn't happen but that doesn't mean we will do it.

"There have been loads of shock results and we have to make sure we are not one of those stats.

"Clyde beating Celtic was a massive shock, Burton Albion drawing with Man United was a massive shock to anyone but that's what it's all about. If you are not 100 per cent and tuned in, you will struggle.

"Partick will come here and be in our faces and we have to be ready.

"We haven't made ourselves favourites, other people do that. We have a tough game and it will be a bonus to play well and score a few goals but the priority is to go through. If it's a lucky deflection in the 89th minute then I'll take it.

"Winning a Cup Final day is very special because there aren't many chances in football to run around with the Cup in front of your fans."

This afternoon's quarter-final will be screened live on Sky, although the 12.15 kick-off has not gone down well with Rix, who will force his players to munch bowls of pasta for breakfast.

He said: "I hate early kick-offs because it means we have to bring everything forward by three hours.

"Pre-match, which is normally at noon, is now at 9.15am and chicken and pasta at the time of the morning takes a bit of eating. The staff will have bacon, eggs and mushrooms but that's the way it goes.

"The players will eat the things they normally do at the hotel. It's an early start so we need to be tuned in and make sure we do the job properly.

"There will be no pressure on Partick and they will be fairly relaxed. All the pressure is on us but we have to learn to live with that."

Given Celtic have a 13-point lead in the SPL Robbie Neilson knows the Scottish Cup represents Hearts' best chance of silverware this season.

And the full-back admits it will be a travesty if the Jambos end up with nothing to show for their efforts.

Neilson said: "The Cup is our best bet but we still have a chance in the league. We don't want to come out of a good season with nothing to show for it.

"It's important for the fans as well. This is one of the best seasons we've had for a long time.

"It would be disappointing if there was nothing at the end but hopefully we can win something.

"There are only three SPL clubs left but we know we're going to have a difficult game against Thistle.

"They'll see it as the Cup Final. They put out Inverness and they'll think 'Why not put out Hearts as well?'"

Neilson, who was an apprentice when Hearts won the Cup in '98, reckons Hampden glory would also keep Rix in employment.

He added: "Winning the Cup would help the manager keep his job. He's agreat coach and the players are right behind him.

"People are saying there could be an all-Edinburgh final but there's still a long way to go.

"Celtic were knocked out by Clyde and it just shows you what can happen. Then Clyde got knocked out by Gretna. Strange things can happen in the Cup."

Taken from the Daily Record