Leishman Post Hearts
29 July 2006

Jim Leishman was upset with the manner of the defeat to Hearts especially since his team were appealing for offside at the winning goal:-

"The television company is telling me that Berra touched the ball in. The only player who could have played the player on was Greg Shields with him being the last man. I went and asked the linesman and he said that he could not see whether or not he had touched it or not."

The referee Brian Winter is not unaccustomed to unpopular decisions at East End Park. He was the whistler who awarded Inverness Caley a controversial late penalty back on 8th February. Leish chose his words carefully when asked if he thought the referee had a good game:-

"I am not allowed to comment about the referee. To be fair there were some decisions that were a little inconsistent. That is what frustrates when it a foul here but not a foul there. I thought Bamba won the ball at the free kick that led to the goal."

After losing Andy Tod to a debateable second yellow card award, Assistant Manager Craig Robertson followed the Kelty man to the stand. The gaffer explained the circumstances:-

"Craig felt annoyed when the boy went down in the incident that got Andy Tod sent off. Andy said that he did not make contact but the boy fell down. Craig was a little incensed about it. He wasn't speaking to the referee or the fourth official, he was speaking to John McGlynn, they are pals, and he swore.

"All they were doing was speaking to each other in the dug out. He shouted because you have to over the crowd. Ask John if he was offended? I genuinely didn't see the boy going down, I want to see it on the television."

Replying to an enquiry Leish hoped to have Aaron Labonte available for next week and Darren Young and Greg Ross will step up their training this week. He welcomes the increased competition for places:-

"It is important because last year it was a matter of you are playing and how can we fill in the jigsaw. Today we had options with Owen Morrison and Mark Burchill sitting on the bench. Mark wasn't a 100% right with his knee.

"At the first goal unfortunately Roddy (McKenzie) was caught out of position but there are a lot of plusses. The big boy Bamba, his wages are not in a high bracket but he has the potential to take his wages up to a high bracket. He is strong, physical, he is not a dirty player and I think he could be one for the future. With a wee bit luck and hard work he has great potential. It is three points lost."