12 WWW.HEARTSFC.CO.UK
FOUNDED: 1922 HOME GROUND: BALMORAL STADIUM, ABERDEEN CAPACITY: 2,322 MANAGER: PAUL HARTLEY DIVISION: LEAGUE ONE TWITTER: @COVERANGERSFC
OPPOSITION REPORT COVE RANGERS Less than six months away from their Centurion season, Cove Rangers arrive at Tynecastle this evening looking to kick-start a season which they hope will end with promotion to the second tier of Scottish football. The League One side came all so close to securing a spot in the Championship play-off final last season, losing out to Airdrieonians after a dramatic tie that took them to extra-time. Ahead of the new campaign, however, the Aberdeen side are once again expected to challenge at the top end of the table as they continue to strive towards new heights. They’ve wasted little time in strengthening their squad ahead of the new campaign, with experienced duo Ross Draper and Iain Vigurs joining from Ross
County to add further steel to the midfield. Both players join the League One side having played Premiership football last season and Cove fans will be hoping their experience and quality can help give them that extra push required to break into the Championship. In normal times one would expect there to be a warm embrace between the two opposing managers prior to kick-off tonight. Instead, it’ll be fist bump between two Hearts Scottish Cup winners as Robbie Neilson takes on Cove boss Paul Hartley. As one of the most popular Hearts players in recent decades, Sir Paul can also expect a warm Tynecastle welcome from the 2000 Jambos in attendance.
