CALDERWOOD FURY AFTER DONS CRASH

By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has criticised the role of the officials after their 3-0 defeat by Hearts in the Tennent's Scottish Cup fifth round.

Hearts lived up to their new-found status as competition favourites but they had a huge slice of help.

Michal Pospisil had volleyed the Edinburgh outfit into the lead but moments later referee Kenny Clark denied the men from Pittodrie a clear-cut penalty after Andy Webster had fouled Stevie Crawford.

Calum Elliot doubled Hearts' advantage before the officials courted more controversy.

Clark and assistant Jim Lyon adjudged Zander Diamond had fouled Pospisil inside the area and not only awarded a penalty - which was converted by Steven Pressley - but then sent off the defender.

Calderwood refused to shake the linesman's hand but he accused Lyon of changing his mind over the Crawford incident.

He said: "Stevie is an honest lad and he says it was a stonewall penalty. He said he got away from the two defenders there.

"We could have got that and they could have had a man sent off then it would have been a different story.

"Kenny said he never saw it but the linesman at the time said he was looking at it but then I hear none of them saw it which is strange.

"Our lads said their penalty wasn't even in the box and we had a man sent off but the first incident was crucial in the game

"Some days they might go for you and other days they don't like today."

Hearts coach Graham Rix, who will look forward to a quarter-final tie at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle or Partick Thistle, added: "I'm sure Jimmy thought it was a penalty.

"I am not doing an Arsene Wenger but I have not seen it in slow-motion yet so I won't comment. Some you get, some you don't."

But Rix admitted he was sweating at the prospect of drawing their Edinburgh rivals in the last eight.

The Tynecastle outfit are favourites with Rangers following Celtic through the exit door after their shock home defeat to Hibernian.

"Of course I am happy to avoided Hibs because they are a good side, there's no doubt about that," said Rix.

"The result they got earlier today was absolutely fantastic but I am as pleased as I can be for them being Hearts manager.

"I was sweating a bit later on in the draw because we were still in the bag but I am not worrying about Hibs.

"I was delighted to get a home draw with whoever came out against us. I am delighted to be at home - that makes a big difference."

Taken from sportinglife.com