Hearts earned a hard-fought win over Kilmarnock but Derek McInnes was fizzing their first goal was allowed to stand.
New signing Elton Kabangu got his first Tynecastle goal to open the scoring after James Wilson got on the end of a long ball to combine with Jorge Grant and the Belgian.
Booby Wales equalised with a lovely finish after the break but the Jambos went 3-1 up through Jamie McCart and Grant before Fraser Murray made it a nervy closing period, but Hearts saw it through to seal the three points.
Manager Neil Critchley thought the Jambos were off the pace despite the win, which keeps them unbeaten in 2025.
McInnes highlighted mistakes his players made, but also the officials.
For the first goal, as the ball was lofted forward, Kabangu knocked Joe Wright to the floor and the Killie boss felt he impeded him from an offside position.
He made those feelings clear post-match, directing his ire at the VAR team rather than on-pitch ref John Beaton or his linesmen.
Dermot Gallagher says Hearts goal was legit
But former English Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has told McInnes why, by the letter of the law, is viewpoint is incorrect.
Because the Hearts striker make any attempt to go for the ball, he cannot be ruled as being offside. And in any case, he actually felt Wright made the contact with him.
Gallagher said: “He was in an offside position but, if you watch, when it goes to the centre-forward there he runs out.”
It was pointed out Kabangu knocked Wright over, but Gallagher went on: “Yeah, but I think you might be clutching at straws again, Rob.
“The player who is in an offside position, which isn’t an offence, the centre-forward goes after the ball and he (Derek McInnes) may feel that the player who is an offside position impedes the defender coming back because they connect.
“But I actually feel the defender runs into the forward. Under the law you can’t penalise because the player who is in an offside position hasn’t gone towards the ball. He hasn’t moved towards the ball, his opponent has moved towards him.”
What Derek McInnes said about Hearts goal vs Kilmarnock
McInnes had said post-match: “The first goal was a mistake from the VAR.
“How they don’t give offside is unbelievable. I’m not criticising John (Beaton) or the linesman. The ball is in open play, Kabangu is a yard offside then impedes Wright.
“How that can’t be taken back by VAR. How that isn’t a foul and offside. That’s what VAR is there for and what we pay the money for. It’s ridiculous how that goal stood.
“I spoke with the fourth official and linesman who said he wasn’t sure but that’s what VAR is there for. On the monitor I felt comfortable it would be overturned and I was surprised when it wasn’t.
“It’s not good enough. I’m all for transparency but we’re still having problems with it.”