YOU FELL FOR CON JOB REF

HEARTS 1 FALKIRK 0

FUMING Falkirk boss John Hughes laid into cheating Hearts conman Andrius Velicka after a last-minute red-card storm.

Bairns stopper Darren Barr reacted to a late tackle on the edge of the box by going chest to chest with the Lithuanian striker.

But all hell broke loose as Velicka fell to the deck claiming a headbutt and ref Steve Conroy was conned into sending off the 21-year-old.

Barr's reaction spoke volumes. He struggled to contain his fury and from the press box it looked his rage was justified.

The incident lit a late fire under a tousy game where Hearts just deserved the win sub Roman Bednar's 74th-minute strike earned them.

Hughes, who will appeal the decision to dismiss Barr, stormed: "Steve Conroy's a really good ref who had a good match but he got CONNED.

"Darren's the most honest, hardworking boy at our club and if he says he did nothing, he did nothing. He's close to tears in that dressing room.

"The ref said he stuck the head on him and I can't believe he fell for it. It's a injustice. It's not football, it's not the game I was brought up in.

"I'm unhappy at the ref and the player. I expect any professional to conduct himself better.

"But 100 per cent we'll be appealing it, although you wonder what the point is when they just take your money then knock you back."

Bairns sub Dean Holden doesn't know the Scottish game well yet but is certain about what he saw and was as angry as his boss.

The former Bolton and Peterborough hardman, who was booked in the incident, said: "It's not how people should behave.

"Darren's a lad with great integrity and a great career ahead of him and he was just reacting to a shocking tackle.

"He went to square up and the guy went down claiming a headbutt.

"I'd be embarrassed if I behaved like that. I spoke to three or four of their lads and they said that's the way he is.

"The game has to do something about it to stop the diving. We're seeing it too often and it's time we saw bans and fines handed out."

The incident deflected from the fact Hearts clambered back over Aberdeen and within two points of second spot. The pitch had survived two morning inspections but overhead conditions caused nightmares for two sides who like to play the game the right way. Especially for Falkirk after a week in the Portuguese sunshine.

Still, the Bairns got a boost pre-match with the news Craig Gordon was missing with a groin problem. Word had it that he wanted to play but boss Valdas Ivanauskas was keener to have him 100 per cent for Rangers next week.

Not that Steve Banks had much to worry him before the break. Kasper Schmeichel was undermore scrutiny at the other end but stood up to it manfully.

With dad Peter watching from the stand the on-loan Dane produced two stand-out stops, from a Paul Hartley 20-yard snapshot and an angled Velicka drive.

The second of those, parrying it into the air, led to a clash of heads between Saulius Mikoliunas and Karl Dodd that saw the Aussie stopper stretchered off.

Falkirk were snapping and snarling in the middle of the park to shut Hearts down and the flowing football evident in their four previous wins was in short supply.

They did have the best chance of the half from a Russell Latapy corner. Jack Ross' header was parried by Banks into the path of Barr but the stopper unbelievably headed off the outside of the post and wide from three yards.

That was as close as they came but the Jambos got even closer after a sensational dancing Hartley run along the 18-yard line.

He fed Mikoliunas in space on the right but the Lithuanian, so often a pariah of the Tynie crowd, blazed his effort off the bar.

It wasn't much of a spectacle but with 18 minutes left the game came to life.

Velicka bundled Hartley's cross off the post at one end after some shocking Bairns defending while Vitor Lima was unlucky to see his header hit the inside of the post and flash across goal 30 seconds later.

Something had to give - and it did in the next attack with all three Hearts subs combining for the winner.

Ibrahim Tall found Andy Driver and his ball into the near post from the right flank was perfect for Bednar to ram it home from eight yards.

REF WATCH

STEVE CONROY performed well in the main but was duped by Andrius Velicka into a deplorable decision to red card Darren Barr at the death for an alleged headbutt. Rating: 6/10.

MATCH STATS

HEARTS V FALKIRK

SHOTS ON 5

SHOTS OFF 8

OFF SIDE 2

FOULS 10

CORNERS 0

BOOKINGS 2

SHOTS ON 4

SHOTS OFF 6

OFF SIDE 5

FOULS 12

CORNERS 5

BOOKINGS 1

Taken from the Sunday Mail