Raith Rovers manager Gary Locke insists a shock Scottish Cup victory over Hearts can get the club’s Championship charge back on track following a disappointing run of results.
The Kirkcaldy club will bid to collect their first victory in 10 matches when they welcome their Premiership counterparts in tomorrow’s televised fourth round clash.
A three-game losing run in the league has seen Rovers fall six points off the play-off pack but former Hearts captain and manager Locke hopes the cup tie can help revive his team’s fortunes.
He said: “We’ve had seven draws in the league, which isn’t ideal but we had drawn with Dunfermline, at Easter Road against Hibs and against Dundee United.
“They’re not bad results but when you lose three it soon turns into, ‘they’ve not won for ages’.
“The team have not been playing too badly. This is a fresh challenge for us and a result would give us a massive lift.
“It’s a great group of players and I’ve really enjoyed working with them.”
The odds are stacked against Raith progressing in the cup but the Locke insists the money-spinning tie will be a welcome boost off the pitch.
Over 4,000 Hearts fans will make the journey across the Forth, with a crowd in excess of 6,000 expected at Stark’s Park.
He added: “I don’t have a bolt to bring in any new players but even with getting Hearts in the cup, that’s been a godsend for us because we went two months without having a home game.
“It was a struggle for us, when you’re not playing at three o’clock on a Saturday the crowds are affected and we didn’t have any money coming in.
“Getting Hearts in the cup has pulled us out of a hole.”
