ROBERTSON RAGE AT REF ROWBOTHAM

Hearts head coach John Robertson reignited his feud with referee John Rowbotham by claiming the official cost his side a place in the Tennent's Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

The Jambos boss was left reeling when a last-minute Kilmarnock strike made the final score 2-2 and set up a fourth-round replay at Rugby Park.

Robertson insists they should never have been in the position to level the scoreline. He was furious at the way Colin Nish was readmitted to the field of play after receiving treatment and took advantage to score Killie's first, and was also fuming with Steven Naismith's late equaliser.

The goal came from an Alan Combe free-kick awarded for an offside against Hearts striker Mark Burchill - but Robertson insisted he was onside.

He said: "It was a sore one because we lost the game so late and again it was a bizarre refereeing decision which cost us.

"Their player is off getting treatment and is allowed to come on on the blind side of everyone else.

"No-one knows he is on and he is allowed to run 30 yards to score - it's bizarre to say the least."

He added: "Everyone in the ground can see that Mark Burchill is not offside and the decision cost us.

"They score straight from the free-kick and it's not just me, 8,000 people in the stands can see that Mark Burchill is not offside.

"It's pointless at times going on about it but they just make up these decisions."

Hearts twice led through Dennis Wyness and Lee Miller but now face a return match.

The Hearts boss has already had a run-in with Rowbotham following their defeat to Motherwell earlier in the season.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies, on the other hand, felt Rowbotham's decisions were spot-on.

He said: "I thought he was just offside but when I was Hearts manager I had the rose-tinted glasses on as well.

"I think it's a trait of all Hearts managers.

"I'll have a wee beer with John and tell him that I thought Burchill was offside!"

Jefferies also praised goalscorer Naismith, who came off the bench to score his first senior goal in the same week he signed a two-and-a-half-year extension to his current deal.

He added: "He had about nine matches and we are experienced enough to know when to take him out and give him a break.

"He had two tough games against Hibs and Celtic and we thought we would use him late in this game and he came on and scored a terrific winner.

"He is a fantastic prospect and it has been a great week for him, firstly extending his contract and then scoring his first goal for the first team. And what a time to score it."

Taken from sportinglife.com