(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson was left fuming over poor decisions made by referees again as he insisted his side should have been awarded a spot-kick when Ellis Simms was barged in the box by Hibs’ Lewis Stevenson.
Neilson confirmed that he spoke referee Don Robertson – who gave an “excuse” for not awarding the penalty – and the Jambos boss thinks it was a nailed-on foul.
“I spoke to the ref and he gave me an excuse for not giving it,” Neilson said. “He said he hadn’t seen it yet but when he does I think he will agree with the vast majority.
It would have been a red card. In my opinion he’s made a big mistake and I’m sure he’ll agree once he’s seen it.
“In real-time, I thought 100 per cent right away it was a penalty. You can see movement of the ball, movement of the players. It’s a penalty kick but for some reason he doesn’t see it.
I think I’ve said enough before about referees and I got sent off at Ibrox. It could have happened again today if I hadn’t kept my mouth shut.”
To make matters worse, Stevenson would be involved again in another potential penalty shout when Alex Cochrane’s shot hit the Easter Road legend in the arm – with Neilson felt that Roberson got that decision wrong too.
There was a handball as well,” Neilson added. “To be fair to the referee, he said he saw it and in his opinion the arm was close enough to the body not to give it. His opinion but I disagree.
“At Auchinleck we got terrible decisions, we go to Celtic and get offside decisions and we come here tonight and you get those two. It’s cost us points tonight.”
NTOF now offers a YouTube channel featuring exclusive interviews, post-match discussion, in-depth debate, and much more – LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and don’t miss any of our videos.