Craig 'disgusted' over ref display

PAUL KIDDIE

HEARTS boss Craig Levein was today still raging at the inept display of referee Dougie McDonald in the Euro showdown with Kilmarnock at the weekend, the Jambos chief claiming he was "disgusted" by the official’s performance at Rugby Park.

Whistle-happy McDonald lost the plot in the second half of the Ayrshire showdown and controversially sent off both Andy Webster and Austin McCann as the home side edged home 1-0 to keep their hopes of UEFA Cup qualification alive.

The hapless referee also made ten bookings in a game which was keenly contested but never dirty, Gary McSwegan’s first-half header seeing Killie cut Hearts lead to four points in the race for third place.

McCann’s straight red card two minutes from time for a tackle on substitute Paul Di Giacomo in the Killie half - after the whistle had gone for offside in Hearts’ favour - was the final straw for the Gorgie outfit who had earlier seen three decent penalty claims turned down by the man in the middle.

And Levein has revealed he is considering an appeal against the full-back’s sending off.

He will wait to read the referee’s report on the game before making a final decision but today he said: "It was a game in keeping with what was at stake with both teams committed to trying to win the game.

"It was a typical Premierleague game.

"I have no gripe whatsoever with Kilmarnock as they were trying to win the match just like us.

"But I was disgusted with the performance of the referee. The flow of the game was continually
interrupted. People like to see players pass the ball and create goal-scoring opportunities but the match never got a chance to flow without there being a booking. Austin McCann said he made a late challenge on the guy but it was in their half of the pitch and I find it hard to believe he was the last man."

He added: "If there are grounds for an appeal then we will consider it."

As things stand, Levein faces a major selection headache for Saturday’s trip to Parkhead with both McCann and Webster automatically suspended for the trip to Glasgow.

Midfielder Phil Stamp will be available but his first-half booking at Rugby Park means he will miss his side’s last two league games.

Taken from the Scotsman