REFEREE WAS SPOT ON - BERRA

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts defender Christophe Berra insisted referee Eddie Smith was right not to penalise him for an apparent foul on Danny Invincibile during the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Berra appeared to trip the Australian on the edge of the penalty area just before the end of the first half.

However, referee Eddie Smith waved play on and the visitors held on until the 70th minute when midfielder Paul Hartley scored from a free-kick.

Berra rubbed salt in the Ayrshire side's wounds when he scored his first goal for the club with four minutes left to guarantee European football next season.

He said: "He ran from the left-hand side and I never saw him at first. But he ran across me and honestly, it happened that quickly I don't know if I caught him or not.

"I don't know if he dived or caught his own feet but if I did catch him then it wasn't intentional and a red card would have been unfair.

"It could have looked as if I had caught him but I didn't worry when he went down

because I knew I didn't do anything deliberate.

"I didn't lunge in or anything like that, I was just running in my normal stride."

On his goal, Berra added: "It was special. I never expected to play but I came in and scored and had a good game.

"I didn't know what to do when I scored, I went mental. I was out of breath and wanted the game to finish."

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was left frustrated by the second controversial decision to go against his side in a week.

Steven Naismith has a goal chalked off for offside against Celtic last week, a decision which assistant referee Frank Cole later admitted was wrong.

Jefferies said: "The best person to ask is the referee. Danny is an honest lad and he said that he got in behind the defender and his legs were clipped.

"The problem was that if he had given the foul he would have to send the man off because it was a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

"We didn't get the break last week and it was probably around the same time, 43 minutes.

"There must be something about the 43rd minute so I won't be taking that number in the lottery."

Hearts' interim manager Valdas Ivanauskas, who refused to comment on the Berra incident, played down the omission of Andy Webster.

Although captain Stephen Pressley had to withdraw with a back injury, Berra was preferred to the Scottish international, who did not even make the bench.

Ivanauskas said: "Andy Webster is rested. He is a quality player, an international and we need him."

Rangers' draw with Aberdeen means the Jambos are now five points ahead of the Ibrox men with four games to go, but Ivanauskas added: It is nice but we don't look to Rangers, we only look at our games."

Taken from sportinglife.com