Frankie Kent: Hearts need to show some bottle in Scottish Cup semi-final

Frankie Kent admitted under-fire Hearts must prove they have the “bottle” to handle big-game pressure when they face Aberdeen in Saturday’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final.

The Jambos have been heavily criticised for falling short when it matters this season after botching golden opportunities to make the knockout phase of the Conference League and finish in the top six of the William Hill Premiership.

Despite preparing to play out the remainder of their underwhelming campaign in the bottom six, defender Kent believes they can still “put a positive spin” on their season if they rise to the occasion at Hampden this weekend.

“The pressure is on,” said the Englishman, who is back in the mix after four months out injured. “There is no getting away from it, it is a big game. It is up to us to put on a good performance and show some bottle, really.

“There’s no excuse for not being up for a semi-final knowing you are one win away from a final and potentially winning some silverware.

“The game itself and the situation we are in, if you cannot get up for it then there’s a problem. We have to show a reaction to what has happened this season and last week but I am sure we can do that.”

While Hearts have generally improved since Neil Critchley replaced Steven Naismith while they were bottom of the league in October, their inability to pull off what would be perceived as a “statement win” against the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian or Aberdeen has been questioned.

“It has been a tough season,” said Kent. “We haven’t played well enough, as our position shows. We cannot get away from that. And in the big games it has been tight either way, in my opinion.

“Things could have gone our way but they haven’t this season, I can’t put a finger on why. But we have another opportunity on Saturday to change that.”

Kent is adamant Hearts, who eased to a comfortable third-place finish last term, remain perfectly capable of winning the Scottish Cup if they can refocus after last weekend’s top-six disappointment.

“Yes, definitely,” he said when asked if he felt they could win a trophy they last lifted 13 years ago. “I think we have shown, especially in my time here, that we can beat anyone.

“Listen, it is going to be a tough game on Saturday, but I feel like we are in a good place in terms of now addressing what has happened. It feels like it is a bit of a clean slate in terms of having this to look forward to and the next load of games after that.

“Football moves quickly. Training has been really good this week. I feel like the boys have a point to prove in terms of getting a good result and getting through.”

The recent return to contention of Kent, Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley means Gerald Taylor and back-up goalkeeper Zander Clark are Hearts’ only definite absentees for the semi-final.

Kent has not played since suffering a quad injury away to Copenhagen in mid-December, but the 29-year-old is “excited” to be back and has no worries about stepping into the breach at Hampden if called upon.

“I am experienced enough personally to deal with these sorts of games,” he said. “If I was put back in then yes, I definitely feel like I am ready. Don’t get me wrong it would be tough but I feel 100 per cent ready to be playing.”