Neil Critchley does not have his problems to seek at Hearts right now.
And he felt he was not helped at all by a refereeing decision during the draw with Ross County that left him puzzled.
The Jambos led County 2-0 at the Global Energy Stadium and looked to be heading for a vital three points that would have taken them above the Staggies into tenth.
Hearts thought they were about to get the chance to make it three from the spot when referee Ross Hardie pointed to the spot for a foul by Michee Efete on James Penrice, but then changed to a free-kick after a VAR check.
It was a decision that left Hearts boss Critchley perplexed and he insisted in his post-match interview that it was a clear penalty.
However, former referee Dermot Gallagher did not agree when poring over the decision for Sky Sports’ Ref Watch.
Bobby Madden weighs in on Hearts penalty claim
Confusion around the decision stems from the fact contact from Efete on Penrice started outside the box and continued in.
In the recent Premier Sports Cup final Rangers were denied a spot kick for a similar incident involving Vaclav Cerny and Celtic’s Liam Scales, with the SFA then coming out and admitting their officials had made a mistake.
Critchley referenced that in his post-match complaints but former referee Bobby Madden has explained why this one was different – namely because Scales’ foul was holding while this one was not.
There was also confusion about why Hardie was sent to the monitor as it would be a factual decision whether or not the foul was inside the box, but Madden claims VAR were right to get involved.
He said on Instagram: “The first contact starts outside the penalty area and does continue in but it is not holding so you punish the first contact and VAR intervention correct.”
Gallagher had said: “I was surprised he went to the monitor but what I would say is he got the decision right, it’s not a penalty. It was clearly outside the box so the VAR has done a favour whether he sent him or not.”
What Critchley said on Hearts penalty call
The Jambos boss said: “The referee gives a foul, and the initial contact might be outside the box but it clearly carries on inside the box, so it’s a penalty.
“He gives the foul, then looks at the screen and gives a free-kick. The contact carrying on into the box means it is a penalty. I thought we had cleared that up after the [League] cup final, but clearly not.”