Hartley evens the score for Hearts

Given recent events, there was room for debate as both men crashed to ground yesterday, but it was not as dubious a decision as when the assistant referee persuaded Hugh Dallas to award an injury-time penalty against Miller for a foul on the Rangers defender, Sotirios Kyrgiakos at Tynecastle. Davie Hay, the Dunfermline manager, confirmed that regardless of television evidence he will not appeal to the SFA. “You either accept the referee’s decision as I will or you can complain to people and maybe get the decision in the next game,” he said in a neat assessment of both controversies.

Paul Hartley placed the penalty low and to the left as Dunfermline goalkeeper Derek Stillie went the other way. It gave Hearts such a jolt that they could have gone on to win the match but the result was no injustice to either side.

In the statement that heralded Hearts’ hubris after the match against Rangers, reference was made to the effect it had on the players’ morale. Whatever you make of their motives there was no denying that Hearts were down at Dunfermline before that penalty. They managed one effort on goal in a first-half that Dunfermline deservedly ended a goal up. It was from Miller and was memorable in its execution and the way it was repelled; a dipping volley from 25 yards saved brilliantly by Stillie, back peddling and arcing his body to tip over.

That was after 33 minutes, two minutes after Dunfermline had taken the lead. Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon had already been forced into two excellent saves to deny Georgi Hristov and Simon Donnelly. The Macedonian international striker jinked a yard from Christophe Berra and shot low at the near post from 12 yards. Donnelly struck a fierce effort from 20 yards after Andy Webster’s defensive header went up instead of out. On both occasions Gordon reacted brilliantly to block with his legs.

However, the keeper could not reach any of three consecutive corners that came next. Dunfermline left-back Iain Campbell hit the third into the six-yard box, which was then headed in off the underside of the crossbar by Wilson.

Dunfermline could have killed this one off within five minutes of the restart. First Jesper Christiansen hit the byline down the inside right channel but Derek Young could not keep behind his cut back. Then Darren Young failed with a volley after Gordon moved to his left for another key save. Andy Tod timed a back-post jump perfectly but could not head Lee Makel’s corner on target.

In their first significant retaliation Hearts won their penalty. “We went up for it together and we collided. If anything he was climbing on my back,” said Miller.

“It’s never a penalty,” said Wilson. “And to make matters worse Lee Miller turned round and told me, ‘It’s never a penalty’. The boys are gutted because we feel like we’ve been punished for something that happened on Wednesday. I’m not saying that is the case but that is how it feels.”

“Who knows what a penalty is these days?” was the opinion of John Robertson, the Hearts manager, who would not comment on his club’s appeal to the SFA.

Dunfermline would have regained their lead had Gary Mason matched a great run with a quality finish. He gave Christiansen a target after the winger had motored past Lee Wallace down the left but his header was at Gordon, who dropped down and covered up after an initial fumble.

Down the other end, after 72 minutes, Dennis Wyness cleared the bar comfortably when Stillie’s punch found its way to him 12 yards out. Jamie McAllister twice went closer, forcing Stillie to save from a skimming 20-yarder and seeing another shot steered round the post by Campbell. At the death, Tod headed Greg Ross’s cross past Gordon but the assistant referee’s flag was in Hearts’ favour this time.

“We are due something in our next game. Who do we play next,” asked Wilson afterwards. “Celtic? No chance of that then.”

STAR MAN: Jesper Christiansen (Dunfermline)

Taken from timesonline.co.uk