I just can't believe ref sent me packing at Partick

MARK BONTHRONE

HEARTS star Paul Hartley today expressed his disbelief at the bookings handed out by referee Alan Freeland which resulted in a red card - and denied him a what he claims was a stonewall penalty.

The former St Johnstone playmaker was sent for an early bath three minutes from the end of the Jambos’ disappointing 1-0 defeat to Partick Thistle at Firhill but believes he was harshly treated by the official.

Hartley is confident he should have been awarded a penalty kick midway through the second period when Adrian Madaschi bundled him to the ground, but to his astonishment not only did Freeland not point to the spot, he also flashed him a yellow card for diving.

Then, minutes from the end of the match the 27-year-old was sent packing for a challenge on Jamie Mitchell, himself booked for diving minutes before Hartley was.

"I thought I should have had a penalty as the boy has pulled me back so I couldn’t believe it when I was then booked for diving," he said.

"The referee had booked Jamie Mitchell earlier for diving and although I didn’t get a clear view of that challenge I was definitely pulled back in the area. There’s no doubt in my mind I should have had a penalty.

"I went down and to get booked was really frustrating. Then, to make matters worse I then got sent off near the end for a nothing challenge.

"It was the kind of challenge that goes on all the time yet I ended up being shown a red card which now means I’m going to miss a couple of games which is really disappointing."

While Hartley was left frustrated by those incidents he admits the whole team were disappointed with how they had performed against bottom of the table Thistle.

The Jambos looked out of sorts throughout the clash in Maryhill and could have little complaint about the 1-0 reverse which in truth could have been even worse.

In the end they only went down by a single goal, a slack back header by captain Steven Pressley being pounced upon by Andy Thomson who then kept his composure to calmly lob the ball over the advancing Craig Gordon.

And while Hartley was unable to explain exactly why his side had seen their impressive ten-match unbeaten run brought to an end he insisted the finger of blame should not be pointed at Pressley.

"We didn’t play well at all and really never even got started. It was just one of those games where things don’t go for you and it’s hard to know why.

"Thistle deserve credit as they are fighting for their lives and they battled really well but we know that we have to do better. We could maybe have got a draw although I’m sure Thistle will feel they deserved the win.

"Elvis may have had a wee slip but it was the full team that lost the game and that didn’t perform well so it’s not fair to blame Elvis. He has been outstanding for us so far this season. We had plenty of time to try and get back into the game after they scored and the disappointing things is that we never really looked like doing so."

The result means Hearts failed to increase their nine-point advantage over Dunfermline in the race for UEFA Cup qualification and with the Fifers holding two games in hand Hartley insists it is vital the team regain their momentum at home to Livingston on Saturday.

"We’ve got to bounce back in the next game and it’s important we get back on the rails against Livingston at the weekend. This defeat might let Dunfermline in a wee bit because they do have a couple of games in hand but they still have to go and win them which won’t be easy with the schedule they have for those fixtures.

"We are still in command at the moment and if we can bounce back straight away it will keep all the pressure on them.

"It’s important to get back to winning ways."

Taken from the Scotsman