LEISH: REF WRONG TO BIN CRAIG

JIM LEISHMAN sprang to the defence of assistant Craig Robertson last night after he was ordered to the stand during a stormy end to yesterday's East End Park clash.

The Pars No. 2 was raging at what he felt was an over-reaction by Julien Brellier to an Andy Tod challenge that resulted in the Pars stopper being sent off.

But Leish says ref Brian Winter was wrong to punish Robertson - because he was only debating the issue with his friend and Hearts first-team coach John McGlynn.

The incident made matters worse for the Fifers in their 2-1 opening-day defeat.

Leishman said: "Craig felt a wee bit annoyed about how easily the boy went down.

"Tody said he didn't make contact but the lad has fallen down which incensed Craig.

"But he wasn't speaking out at the ref or the fourth official - he was yelling at his pal McGlynn and yes, he was swearing.

"All they were doing was discussing it in the dug outs.

"And they had to shout because of the noise of the crowd. You'd have to ask John if he was offended."

Leish admits he didn't see the Brellier incident but still hit out at the ref for his performance yesterday.

He said: "Some of his decisions were inconsistent.

"I felt for the free-kick that led to Hearts' second goal that Souleymane Bamba had won the ball. The same thing happened at the other end and it wasn't a free-kick."

But opposite number ValdasIvanauskas was delighted with the win -courtesy of goals from Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil with Stephen Simmons scoring for the home side.

It completed a good week for the Jambos, who also won the first leg of their Euro qualifier against Siroki Brijej and hope to complete the job as they take a 3-0 lead to Bosnia on Wednesday

Ivanauskas said: "It was the first league game so it was important to start with a victory.

"We scored first and had we got another then the game would have been easy.

"But at 1-1 Dunfermline had solid chances.

"We have a good quality team with fine character and we got the second goal which was critical."

Taken from the Sunday Mail