The bus journey back from Brora felt like the end of the world for Craig Halkett four years ago. Tonight he hopes a trip to Brechin can be the start of a trek that leaves Hearts feeling on top of the universe.
Halkett is the only remaining member of the Jambos squad that was humiliated by Highland League minnows Brora Rangers and sent crashing out of the Scottish Cup back in March 2021. The tremors from that apocolyptic evening were felt at Tynecastle for weeks and months afterwards.
But Halkett hasn’t been shying away from the memory this week as Hearts prepare to head back to Highland League territory for tonight’s fourth round clash with Brechin. In fact the 29-year-old – a Scottish Cup runner-up in 2020 – insists it’s important he shares the pain with Neil Critchley’s current squad as they look to go all the way in the competition for the first time in 12 years.
He said: “Obviously it’s not like a nice memory that you want to bring up. But it’s important for the boys that haven’t been here before they know that it’s not a case of just turning up and winning because you’re a bigger club or in a higher league. It’s so important and it just shows that it doesn’t matter how many divisions are between the teams, anything can happen in the Scottish Cup.
“It was a difficult one, it was obviously late at night, there wasn’t much chat on the bus after. Being at Hearts and losing that game was end of the world stuff. It wasn’t great and even for the weeks after it’s still lingering about.
“I don’t think there was any problem leading into the game, attitude-wise, mentality-wise, I think the game just started and obviously Brora were right up for it and they managed to go a goal up. And when that happens obviously anxiety starts to set about and the result not going your way does start to come into your mind when you’re playing the game.
“It was obviously a completely different squad back then, there were a few foreign boys, obviously nowhere near as good a squad as we’ve got now. It just wasn’t a good feeling but thankfully we’ve got a good changing room now and everyone knows about it and we’re right up for the game.
“The Scottish Cup is a competition you want to progress in, so I think regardless of how our form was or how we’re doing in the league it’s always a game that you’re looking forward to.”
Brechin are riding high at the top of the Highland league – four tiers below the Jambos – and can count on two former Tynecastle first teamers among their experienced ranks. Brad McKay and Kevin McHattie are gunning for their old side while man of many clubs Cillian Sheridan could lead the line for City who are managed by former Hibee Patrick Clegg.
And Halkett said: “Brad Mackay’s come out and talked about how much he was wanting this fixture. so he’ll be in the changing room and getting all the boys up for it and he’ll obviously be wanting to win as much as he can. It’s a game we can’t take lightly, they’ve got some good players, players that have played at a lot higher level before so they’ve got a good team and it’s going to be far from easy.
“I’ve played there quite a few times back when I was at Livingston and before and I think I’ve had quite a few positive results. At this time of year, I don’t think they’ve played on the pitch for a few weeks but it’s obviously not going to be in as good of a condition as what we’re used to playing.
“But again it’s another factor in the game that’s probably going to try and level things so we need to make sure again that we play our stuff and try and get a positive result. It’s live on TV, they clearly do pick the game that there’s a potential of an upset.
“So it’s another reason why we must give it our full focus into the game and make sure we win.”