Hearts manager Derek McInnes is calling on the Tynecastle faithful to bring the noise when Rangers visit the capital on Monday night—and he wants the stadium to be in "its full glory."
With just four matches remaining in a tightly contested Scottish Premiership season, every point is precious. Hearts currently sit three points clear of Celtic, with Rangers a further point behind in third. But McInnes is keeping his squad grounded, urging them to focus on the task at hand rather than the bigger picture.
"The motivation in these types of games has always been pretty clear," McInnes said. "Our record would suggest that we always feel we have been the underdog when we play Rangers and Celtic. But we've always been an underdog with real belief in what we're doing. The results we've had have been a testament to that."
The Hearts boss issued a passionate rallying cry to the supporters, encouraging them to create an electric atmosphere that could give his side the edge. "We just want Tynecastle to be in its full glory, to be honest. We want it to be even better than it's been. To the supporters, bring your scarves, show your colours, give it laldy. Let's go and make it a proper night. We'll be determined to get the right result. We see it as a fight that we can win."
McInnes acknowledged the high stakes but refused to let the pressure dampen his excitement. "I wish the game was tomorrow because it's like you just want to get the game played. But of course you look forward to these games. I love the games at Tynecastle, and in particular the whole build-up to it. There's obviously a lot riding on the game. We can't downplay that—and why would we?"
With an unusual 5:30 PM kick-off on a bank holiday Monday, the stage is set for a memorable evening. "Monday at half five is unusual, but it's not going to dilute what's going to be unfolding," McInnes added. "Win, lose, or draw, we're still in the fight. We're just determined to try and make the most of the opportunity, particularly at Tynecastle."
For fans looking to show their colours in style, now is the time to gear up. Whether it's a classic scarf or your favourite matchday jersey, make sure you're ready to roar the team to victory. After all, as McInnes says, it's a fight they believe they can win.
