Wouter Vrancken has challenged on-song Hearts to prove they are a team of substance by treating their trip to Stenhousemuir with the same importance as recent box-office matches against Benfica, Rapid Vienna and Hibernian.
The Jambos are unbeaten in their last eight matches as they prepare to travel to Ochilview, with its synthetic surface, to face unlikely Championship leaders Stenny in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
Head coach Vrancken stressed to his players that there can be no excuses for dropping their standards, even if the environment is different to any other they have encountered this term. “I told them this morning, I said, ‘now you can show yourself what a team you are’,” said the Belgian.
“It’s easy to motivate yourself when you play against Benfica. But you’re a big team, you’re a good team when you also have the motivation in the games that are maybe less romantic. It’s a competitive game and we want to go to the next round with all our heart. We have to be there because I don’t want to have a team of players or people around who make excuses.
“It’s not about Astro, it’s not about the stadium, it’s not about all those things. Excuses are for losers. You have to prepare yourself and you have to be ready. I played all year on a synthetic pitch last year (at Sint-Truiden). You have to cope with those things and be ready.
“Like I told the players before the Hibs game, we have to be above the emotions. Here also we have to be above the emotions. We are the favourites against the underdog, and there’s a totally different situation than playing Benfica.
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"The circumstances are maybe not like you want, but you also have to be above the emotions.”
Vrancken’s squad is stretched at centre-back and central midfield, with the versatile Oisin McEntee, who has been excelling in defence recently, joining the injury list, although he is expected to return for Tuesday’s trip to Falkirk.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Stephen Kingsley and Ageu are all close to a return but are more likely to be back in action after the international break. Vrancken is looking forward to being able to utilising record signing Ageu, with the Brazilian midfielder having endured an injury-disrupted 13 months at Tynecastle so far.
“Ageu is working really hard to come back,” he said. “He’s eager to play again and to show himself on his top level again, and we want to see him there as soon as possible. You see his quality in training; you see the potential directly. When he’s on the ball, he’s calm; his decision-making is good.
“But again, we cannot overload him with all the pressure and wait for him, and then when he’s back, he’s the messiah, that would not be fair towards him.
"So he has to also get the time to adapt again, to fit in again and to find his level again.”
