Ian Cathro out to avoid worst run of defeats since the year Hearts were relegated

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

HEARTS will slip to their worst run of defeats in three years if Hamilton pile further misery on the Jambos this weekend.

Head coach Ian Cathro has not had his troubles to seek since replacing Robbie Neilson at the helm of the capital club in December, winning just four of his first 15 matches in charge.

They were dumped out of the Scottish Cup following a gutless 3-1 defeat against fierce rivals Hibs and jeered from the field after their last league fixture, a 1-0 defeat against Ross County.

However, Cathro put his players through gruelling double training sessions during their weekend without action and is adamant they are doing everything in their power to arrest their slump.

He said this week: “We all know the recent results have not been acceptable, our focus must remain on working together on solutions, correcting mistakes and preparing well for the next match.

“This is a moment for sticking together, supporting each other and that is what we have to do.”

The proof will be in the pudding on Saturday when Accies arrive in Gorgie, themselves desperately scrapping for their lives at the foot of the table and reeling from a 6-0 defeat against Rangers.

Should Hearts succumb to another reverse it would be a fourth defeat in succession for the Jambos.

You need to go back to March 2014 for a similarly poor run, when Gary Locke’s side – ravaged by administration, a points deduction and cost-cutting – lost to Celtic, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Dundee United.

That sequence – ironically, given their recent woes against their city neighbours – was halted with a cathartic 2-0 win over Hibs.

Locke also endured a run of five defeats on the spin during that 2013/14 campaign, with the Jambos ultimately relegated to the Championship.