Craig Halkett recalls Hearts 'end of the world' journey back from Brora humiliation in defiant Scottish Cup message

The bus journey back from Brora felt like the end of the world for Craig Halkett four years ago. Tonight he hopes a trip to Brechin can be the start of a trek that leaves Hearts feeling on top of the universe.

Halkett is the only remaining member of the Jambos squad that was humiliated by Highland League minnows Brora Rangers and sent crashing out of the Scottish Cup back in March 2021. The tremors from that apocolyptic evening were felt at Tynecastle for weeks and months afterwards.

But Halkett hasn’t been shying away from the memory this week as Hearts prepare to head back to Highland League territory for tonight’s fourth round clash with Brechin. In fact the 29-year-old - a Scottish Cup runner-up in 2020 - insists it’s important he shares the pain with Neil Critchley’s current squad as they look to go all the way in the competition for the first time in 12 years.

He said: “Obviously it's not like a nice memory that you want to bring up. But it's important for the boys that haven't been here before they know that it's not a case of just turning up and winning because you're a bigger club or in a higher league. It's so important and it just shows that it doesn't matter how many divisions are between the teams, anything can happen in the Scottish Cup.

“It was a difficult one, it was obviously late at night, there wasn't much chat on the bus after. Being at Hearts and losing that game was end of the world stuff. It wasn't great and even for the weeks after it's still lingering about.

“I don't think there was any problem leading into the game, attitude-wise, mentality-wise, I think the game just started and obviously Brora were right up for it and they managed to go a goal up. And when that happens obviously anxiety starts