Raith keeper Kevin Cuthbert insists all the pressure is on Hearts ahead of tonight’s William Hill Scottish Cup replay at Tynecastle.
The Jambos will start as firm favourites against the Championship outfit and the keeper admitted that is an assessment he agrees with.
However, Cuthbert is determined his side can upset the odds and they will not be travelling to Edinburgh resigned to being “glorious failures”.
When asked if all the pressure was on the home side, the 32-year-old replied: “Yes, absolutely.
“They have to win, it’s as simple as that. They have to win.
“We can go there with the prospect of getting a big tie (against Hibs) in the next round but the pressure is all on them.
“We’re going to go there and try to do what we did on Sunday. If we can do that and give a good account of ourselves, then great.
“But I think Hearts have to win because they’re at home.
“I think they have to win because we’re in the Championship.
“And I think they have to win because they would play Hibs in the next round.
“But we’re not going there to be glorious failures, we’re going there to try to win and to try to get through.
“Whatever happens, we’ll take positives from Sunday and hopefully positives from this game, into the Dumbarton league match on Sunday.
“We’ve got big games coming up, teams round about us who we want to go and beat, and teams we feel we can beat.
“It’s more important we climb up that league than beat Hearts.
“That’s our most important thing, to get into the play-offs and win league games.”
Cuthbert has enjoyed several highlights in the cups over the years and he will not be fazed if the game tonight has to go to penalties.
He already has a shoot-out victory over Hearts on his CV – including making a save from a certain current Raith player Rudi Skacel.
Cuthbert added: “I’ve been to five semi-finals and I’ve got a decent record when it comes to getting there or thereabouts, although it’s more in the League Cup than the Scottish Cup.
“I played in the Scottish Cup for St Johnstone a few years ago against Celtic and played Hibs at Tynecastle for St Johnstone.
“I’ve had a decent cup career.
“We beat Hearts on penalties with Ayr, and it took me a while to remember I saved Rudi’s penalty.
“I forgot that and then I remembered and told him, ‘I saved your penalty that night!’.
“I’ve got a decent record on penalties – five wins and no losses.
“It’s one of those situations where, touch wood, I’ve not lost.
“I won two with St Johnstone, one for Ayr, one for Hamilton and one for Raith.
“So, I’m five out of five.
“If it does go to penalties I’ll be confident that I’ll be able to produce something.
“The best moment of my career was a penalty shoot-out, against Hibs in the play-offs.
“If we can somehow get there I’d take my chances.
“In general, if it gets to that stage, it’s a lottery and anything can happen, but I’d look forward to it.”
