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Hearts LC semi set for Fir Park

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Following the well-publicised views of Gus McPherson about playing the Co-operative Insurance League Cup semi-final at Easter Road, there seemed a degree of inevitability that the venue would end up being somewhere closer to Paisley than Edinburgh. Motherwell`s Fir Park has been chosen to stage the game between Hearts and St. Mirren on Tuesday 2nd February (7.45 kick-off) – despite having a capacity of 4,000 less than the Hibs ground.

Would Easter Road really have given Hearts an advantage ? Perhaps in terms of demand for tickets – but our last 2 “neutral” Cup ties there have both been lost.

Of equal question is the likely state of the Fir Park pitch at this time of the year. Although some remedial work has allegedly been done over the summer, we`ve yet to see if this will help the grass to bind the pitch together. Over the last few years, many managers complained about the lack of grass and heavy mud encountered there. In its favour however is the fact that Motherwell do not have a home match on the preceeding weeekend, so let`s hope the weather is also kind in the lead-up to our match there.

We also have to hope that by the time this game comes around, Hearts have embarked on a decent run of form – with some goals being scored on a regular basis. Whether the January transfer window yields a decent forward to help in this area is a big unknown at this point. Personally, I doubt it – which would mean that Csaba Laszlo`s future at Tynecastle will depend even more on him being able to coach the current strikers to play a more effective type of game.

Hearts make it to so few semi-finals that the fans have an eager sense of anticipation (and blind hope !!) whenever one comes around – and a defeat always leaves us feeling that a golden opportunity has been wasted.

What do you think about the decision to play at Fir Park? and will you be trying to get a ticket ?

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2 comments

  • MrH says:

    I think it’s a good decision all round. ER would have better for capacity but it’s fairer on St Mirren for this game to be staged somewhere in between Edinburgh and Paisley. I’m just glad it’s not Hampden…

  • itsnomarooned says:

    From a selfish point of view then ER would have been great but I’m fraily relaxed about going to Motherwell (I’ll be taking the car though!) and it’s infinitely better than playing at Hampden. As to the state of the pitch or the team ……. that’s anyone’s guess!

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