Pressure on Cathro as Hearts crash out of the Scottish League Cup

Hearts crashed out of the Scottish League Cup on penalties to pile pressure on head coach Ian Cathro after a 2-2 draw against Championship outfit Dunfermline.

The Pars looked to be heading for a shock triumph when goals from Joe Cardle and Declan McManus cancelled out Don Cowie's opener, however Isma Goncalves levelled in the closing stages.

But Dunfermline rubbed salt in the would by winning the subsequent penalty shootout 3-1 and claiming the bonus point to top Group B, prompting jeers from the home fans.

Cathro headed down the tunnel amid a barrage of abuse from a group of angry supporters who had assembled near the front of the Wheatfield Stand.

To exacerbate Cathro's woes, Jamie Walker was left out of the Hearts starting line-up amid suggestions that persistent speculation regarding his future has affected the winger's performances.

With Walker not in the squad, Cowie was handed an unfamiliar role on the right side of the front three - and that decision was vindicated when he latched on to a Kyle Lafferty pass and rifled a fine low drive beyond Sean Murdoch from the edge of the box.

Hearts' advantage lasted just eight minutes, with Cardle restoring parity with a moment of magic. The winger killed a Michael Paton cross on the edge of the box, showed wonderful trickery to spin away from John Souttar and curled a shot beyond Hamilton.

The Fifers claimed took the lead after the break when Callum Smith knocked Souttar off the ball, hared into the box and slipped a pass to McManus, who kept his cool to fire past Hamilton.

Amid chants of 'you're getting sacked in the morning' aimed at Cathro from the Pars faithful, Murdoch produced another superb reflex save to deny Lafferty before Nat Wedderburn and Cardle both cleared efforts off the line.

Hearts finally did breach the massed ranks when Goncalves poked the ball over the line after a Malaury Martin free-kick had caused an almighty goal-mouth scramble.

But the Jambos failed to find a late winner and Jordan McGhee, Malaury Martin and Cowie all missed spot-kicks as Dunfermline won 3-1 on penalties to bank a bonus point.

Cathro believes the saga with Jamie Walker has led to a dip in the player's performances in training and during matches, and it came to a head on Friday.

The Hearts head coach said: Jamie has been dealing with a remarkable degree of speculation and attention. Initially he dealt with it well.

However he's struggled to maintain his performance and focus levels with us.

He has to understand that there are levels which have to be matched on a daily basis. If you can't do that, you won't have a place in the squad or the team.''

He continued: Believe me, I've been I angrier stadiums before. I can understand why the fans are annoyed. It was unacceptable and we're accountable.

But I don't feel any more pressure now than I have done after any other game. Just because someone shouts loudly, or there are four times as many journalists here than usual, it doesn't make me feel any different.

You want my reaction to the anger in the stands? I don't have one. My work, my focus and my responsibility is to to support the players and develop them. I don't waste time reacting to other things.''

Cathro did find an unlikely ally in the form of opposition manager Allan Johnston.

Johnston said: I'm sure they will turn it around. They are going in the right direction, with the new main stand, the training ground and youth academy.

The fans need to be a bit patient at the moment.'