John Robertson admits Critchley has questions to answer over big game record but Aberdeen semi is perfect chance to do it
Sport Craig Swan 06:00, 15 Apr 2025
John Robertson reckons Neil Critchley needs to do a Rory McIlroy and just find a way to get his priceless signature win at Hearts.
The Tynecastle legend is willing the boss to deliver the big one in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.
Critchley was left gutted as Hearts failed to nail a top-six spot and fans who are unhappy are now demanding a success at Hampden over the Reds.
Robertson knows the last-four showdown is vital and, just like McIlroy did to win the Masters, Hearts just have to get it done.
He said: “The fans view it as a massive, massive game. Given the inability to reach the top six, it becomes even more important.
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“Neil will have to get the boys fired up for it. It will become a nervous game that will have mistakes in it. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you do it.
“We talked about McIlroy and how you get over the line somehow.
“Hearts fans will look at it and say, ‘He’s not won any games against Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen or Hibs. You do need a signature result.
“No doubt everybody will be disappointed not to have reached the top six but you look at where he was when he took over, he’s done enough to merit a summer to look at who they’re going to bring in, how they’re going to bring them in.
“But that ultimately is going to be a decision for people on the board. The fans have to understand, there needs to be a bit of stability, you can’t keep chopping and changing managers.
“You only have to look across the city. David Gray was under immense pressure,
“Hibs changed managers regularly but they gave him that little bit more time.
“Suddenly now, 17 games unbeaten. He’s changed his formation, he’s got results, some big, big results as well.
“He’s won two of the three derbies, he’s beaten Rangers, beaten Celtic, beaten Aberdeen, beaten Dundee United.
“Sometimes, that’s what happens. Hearts fans will look at what Hibs are doing, and immediately say, their manager’s winning big games, why is our manager not doing it? And vice versa.”
Critchley is under scrutiny from sections of the support and Robertson said: “Football has changed. Because of the social media aspect, there’s more white noise. In this case, there’s a lot of maroon noise going about.
“You’ve got to focus on your job. Neil, I don’t think he’ll be aware of the noise from outside the club. He’ll be concentrating on getting the results.
“Hearts are about to enter a new era, in partnership with Jamestown Analytics and the Tony Bloom model. There are exciting times ahead.
“But it’s getting to that stable situation. They should’ve made top six, which considering the situation would’ve been seen as a success, and then that would’ve built up nicely for this weekend.
“But Hearts fans, because he’s not won any derbies either, they’ll look at that and think, ‘Can he handle the big games?’. This is the perfect opportunity to win a big game and get Hearts to the cup final.”
Robertson also feels the stage could be set for Lawrence Shankland, who has failed to hit the heights this term.
He added: “You can go from zero to hero and hero to zero very quickly, especially as a striker. We saw it with McIlroy. He started to doubt himself but then he shrugged it off and came again.
“It would be fantastic for him to produce that magical moment that takes Hearts to a cup final.
“Once you get back to Hampden in May, anything can happen. It goes in, or something deflects in or a mistake leaves you with a golden opportunity. That’s what we’re all hoping for.”
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John Robertson was promoting Premier Sports’ live exclusive coverage of Hearts v Aberdeen from 12pm on Saturday on Premier Sports 1. Watch via Sky, Virgin TV, STV Player and Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription and on Premier Sports.
