HEARTS head coach Ian Cathro insists that advantage has not swung from the Gorgie club to Hibernian ahead of their William Hill Scottish Cup replay at Easter Road.
A drab goalless draw in the fifth-round meeting at Tynecastle means the Edinburgh rivals have to do it again in Leith tomorrow night.
However, Cathro – whose club yesterday confirmed they would relay the Tynecastle pitch this week – does not believe momentum has been lost by the Ladbrokes Premiership side.
He said: “Not at all. I didn’t feel that throughout the [first] game, I don’t feel it now.
“There is nothing about what happened in the first game that makes me feel any less convinced about what our position is in this game.
“The first game gives us information. We have played against the opponents, maybe they will be a little bit different but there won’t be too many changes I would imagine.
“Everyone feels quite clear with what we will be faced with.”
Hibs head coach Neil Lennon lashed out at his players following the 1-1 draw with Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park at the weekend, even though the result stretched the Easter Road side’s lead at the top of the Championship table to seven points.
Cathro dismissed the suggestion that stinging criticism will provide any more incentive to get one over their city rivals tomorrow night. The Hearts head coach said: “I think you would have that just the same as if they had won 5-0 at the weekend. I don’t see any difference”
Hibs knocked Hearts out of the Scottish Cup last season on their way to winning the trophy for the first time in 114 years. A 2-2 draw at Tynecastle was followed by a 1-0 win for Hibs in the replay at Easter Road.
Cathro, who took over at the Gorgie club in December following the departure of Robbie Neilson to MK Dons, has watched both of those games and believes the current Hearts squad – bolstered by nine signings in January – is better able to cope this year.
He added: “I think the biggest thing that stood out across the two games is how those games can swing, from momentum being with one side to momentum being with the other side.
“What we have now is a stronger and more ready group. I see a Hearts team now that is stronger.”
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