Hard work key at Hamilton

The Jambos visit South Lanarkshire with a place in the competition’s quarter finals at stake.

Though bottom of the Championship table, John Rankin’s Accies are currently on a six-game unbeaten run and the manager knows the boys in maroon will need to put the hard yards in at the ZLX Stadium if they want to turn on the style.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Robbie said: “We need to work as hard as Hamilton; out-run them, out-jump them, out-fight them then let our quality come through.

“There’s no doubting we’re the favourites for the game, hence the reason it’s on tv. It’s on tv because people think there’s going to be a slip up.

“It’s up to us to make sure there isn’t.”

The Jam Tarts have had a bittersweet relationship with the Scottish Cup in recent years, reaching the final in three out of the last four occasions, only to be narrowly pipped at the post each time.

Robbie insists he is once again prioritising the competition as it produces the best chance of securing a trophy.

He said: “When you go into a cup competition, the way it is in Scotland is it’s very difficult to win the league, so the two cups become a main priority to try and get silverware.

“The last two years we’ve managed to get to finals, we’ve managed to get to extra time and penalties, and we want to take that next step.

“To take that next step we need to win the next round. Tomorrow’s no different from that. We have to make sure we win the game and then see who we get after that.”

Robbie’s press conference is available to watch in full on Hearts TV by clicking here.