Rival bosses blast referee for Edinburgh derby performance

Oct 20 2008 By Colin Duncan

MIXU PAATELAINEN and Csabo Laszlo both blasted blunder ref Eddie Smith for costing them the chance to win yesterday's Edinburgh derby.

Hibs boss Paatelainen reckons Smith got it spectacularly wrong when he turned down a stonewall first-half penalty appeal when Eggert Jonsson tripped Derek Riordan inside the area.

His side were leading 1-0 at the time after a 78-second opener from Steven Fletcher and the Easter Road manager is convinced Smith's decision turned the course of a pulsating contest.

Hearts coach Laszlo also felt the official got it wrong when he ruled out a Christian Nade header for an alleged foul on keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay shortly after Bruno Aguiar had marked his first start for 18 months with a stunning free-kick goal.

In the end both sides had to reluctantly settle for a share of the spoils in the first capital derby of the season although that was little consolation to Paatelainen.

He said: "I felt at 1-0 we should have had a penalty. Sometimes you get these decisions and sometimes you don't.

Derek said it was a clear foul and that's the way I saw it. If we had scored then it is 2-0 and the match is almost over.

"I feel that was a big turning point. I think we should have video evidence although that's a long discussion. The referee felt otherwise so I have no complaints.

"The situation happened so quickly although it is a big decision. Sometimes referees get it wrong and unfortunately that's what happened this time in my opinion.

"I didn't speak to him after the game as I know what his answer would have been. He would have said it wasn't a foul.

"That's why the penalty wasn't given and there is no point dwelling on it. I know they have a difficult job because they are under the microscope."

Paatelainen's bold decision to go with three strikers looked to have paid dividends after Riordan and Colin Nish combined to set up Fletcher in the second minute.

But a needless foul by Nish on Lee Wallace which led to Hearts equaliser and a string of missed opportunities ensured honours were even.

Paatelainen added: "I felt we had the upper hand and created more chances.

"We should have won the game so I'm disappointed.

"We wanted to be positive and go with three up front. We made the perfect start but couldn't build on it.

"Sometimes that extra man in midfield gave them an advantage, but I feel matches are won and lost in the penalty boxes.

"We need to concentrate on our passing game because I felt at times we were a little bit reckless.

"I felt the Hearts goal was a well struck free-kick although it was a bit stupid to concede one there.

"The pass was over hit and the ball was going away from the player when we made the tackle."

Laszlo, sampling the Edinburgh derby for the first time, saw the match differently and felt his side dominated proceedings from start to finish.

The Hungarian reckons the visitors deserved to claim all three points and insists he saw nothing wrong with Nade's 51st-minute challenge on Ma-Kalambay.

He said: "My opinion is not a criticism of the ref but from my position I didn't think Nade did anything.

"Maybe this is wrong and I will think differently when I see it on TV but now I'm the coach from Hearts speaking and I thought it was a goal.

"I must compliment the team because after losing our two previous games to Aberdeen and Kilmarnock I wasn't so confident.

"But if I see how many chances we had I think we must have won this game. Tactically we were very good and we dominated."

Laszlo praised the contribution of debut keeper Janos Balogh, who replaced the injured Marian Kello at the interval.

He was taken to hospital suffering concussion after a clash of heads with Nish but his deputy produced a sensational second-half display with a hat-trick of stops to deny Riordan.

Laszlo said: "If Balogh hadn't saved after Zaliukas' mistake in the final minute we would have lost. I'm happy at Balogh's performance. Kello had a knock to the head and he told me in the dressing room he didn't have the concentration.

"He's in hospital but Kello is a very good keeper. Balogh is a young guy, he was in the Hungarian national team and has played a lot of internationals. He's also played a lot of derbies. He has a contract till December and we can decide about his future after that.

"If Kello is fit I have a big problem now on Saturday over which keeper to play."

Man of the match Agiuar thanked God and Hibs keeper Ma-Kalambay after marking his comeback with a terrific goal just before the break.

The Portuguese midfielder, starting his first match since April 2007 following serious knee and ankle problems, rifled home a free-kick from the edge of the box.

But Aguiar admitted Ma-Kalambay, whose positioning looked suspect to say the least, made it easier for him to draw Hearts level.

He said: "I am very happy. I could not imagine being named man of the match in a derby after 18 months out. It feels like a present from God after he gave me a bad time.

"When I saw the keeper in the middle it looked like he was expecting me to put it in the left side.

"At the last moment, I decided to go the other way and was so happy to see the shot go in.

"The keeper helped me make up mind. Normally, in that position, I would try and put the ball over the wall."

Taken from the Daily Record