Cathro urges players to prove they appreciate responsibilities to fans

Hearts head coach Ian Cathro is convinced his players appreciate their responsibilities to supporters - but knows they must prove it on the pitch.

Cathro admitted his players lacked fighting qualities during last week's Edinburgh derby defeat and they failed to bounce back with a result in Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Partick Thistle.

Hearts have won three times in 14 matches under Cathro, who signed nine players in January.

Cathro admits they owe the supporters, who have put more than #5million into their club to keep it alive and then rejuvenate it.

And he is adamant that players appreciate that passion.

Ahead of Wednesday's visit of Ross County, Cathro said: The players on the pitch have no option, they must know. And I don't feel any uncertainty or nervousness about whether they do or whether they don't.

Everybody understands clearly the size, the importance, how much love and passion there is for this football club.

This is tens and tens of thousands of people's Real Madrid.

That's what brings us this responsibility. I want that, and I'm pretty sure the players do too.''

The 30-year-old added: What we've allowed to happen through poor performances and results, is that we've allowed people to question those things about us.

That's one of the things that hurt us most, when people are allowed to ask those questions of us: 'Do we know what this football club means? Is everybody understanding of the importance of what it means to be a Hearts player and fight for the Hearts shirt?'

The only way that is resolved is on the football pitch.''