Refs treated us like a team of thugs when we had 4 sent off; Now Hearts might get the same treatment, says Sanny.

Sanny McAnespie knows exactly how Jim Jefferies was feeling on Saturday night after the Hearts boss watched four of his men taking that long walk at Ibrox.

Former Stranraer boss Sanny is the ONLY other manager in Scottish football history who does know what Jeff was going through - because he's the only other guy to have been there.

The date was December 3, 1994. The place was Broadwood and the players who lost the place were Stranraer's Tommy Walker, Tom Callaghan, Lex Grant and Steve Cody.

One by one, they were sent packing by referee Andrew Waddell and McAnespie was left helpless on the touchline as Airdrie rampaged to an 8- 1 win.

And according to Mac, Jim Jefferies' problems might be only just beginning - especially if Hearts pick up a reputation of being the bad boys of Scottish football.

McAnespie said: "I must admit that I felt sympathy for Jim on Saturday night when I heard that he had four players sent off.

"The memories of that day at Broadwood came flooding back - and they weren't pleasant.

"Like the Rangers match, our game started without too many problems - in fact, we even scored first!

"But after the first player went off, things just went from bad to worse.

"When the second guy went, it was bad, but as a manager you still feel you are in control of the situation.

"But then the third and fourth went in quick succession, and all you feel is total helplessness.

"Things are out of control and all you can do is try to make sure the players who are still ON the park don't make matters worse by getting into more trouble.

"I remember I was shouting at the linesman, trying to get him to ask the ref what would happen if anyone else was sent off.

"I was terrified the game would be abandoned because of the repercussions that would follow - but the linesman only told me to sit down and shut up!"

Unknown to Sanny at the time, however, there WERE serious repercussions lying in wait for Stranraer after their day of shame.

And to this day, he is convinced his side was victimised in the weeks following the drama.

He said: "There's no doubt in my mind that in the following four or five weeks, refs were coming down hard on my players.

"They were getting booked for their first fouls in games and got away with absolutely nothing.

"The more the bookings piled up, the bigger the reputation we got for being a dirty team, which was not the case.

"But mud sticks and we found it hard going for a while after that match.

"I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to Hearts - but it might.

"If referees start thinking they are uncontrolled and ill-disciplined, they'll keep hammering them - even if the reputation is unwarranted."

But Jefferies had one problem that McAnespie didn't have to cope with on Saturday - an interfering chairman.

Mac said: "When I heard that Chris Robinson has gone down to the technical area, I knew Hearts were in big trouble.

"The SFA won't stand for that - but I can understand why Chris did it.

"This game is all about passion and emotion and Chris saw things running away from his team and got caught up in it all.

"I don't know what I would have done if MY chairman had come down that day at Broadwood - hopefully I would have been calm enough to get him away from the dug- out area.

"But with so much going on - you never know.

"I want back into football but I never want to go through another day like that.

"In fact, I wouldn't wish a day like that on ANY other manager."

Taken from the Daily Record