Csaba Lazlo’s referee rage

HEARTS manager Csaba Laszlo faces certain SFA disciplinary action, after an incredible bust-up at full-time in this enthralling Tynecastle clash. The fuse was lit when referee Steve Conroy, on guidance from his assistant Chris Young, changed his mind after he awarded a penalty to the home side six minutes from time.

The referee first ruled that Dons keeper Jamie Langfield brought down Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart, then altered his decision. That incensed Laszlo who, in a moment of madness at the final whistle, lost control and dashed on to the field to attempt to accost the referee and was stopped by fourth official John McKendrick, who used his substitutes’ board to stop the Hungarian. As he was ushered towards the tunnel, the Tynecastle manager was then involved in another row with Aberdeen coach Sandy Clark, who was attempting to act as peacemaker.

Laszlo revealed he was called to the referee's room after the game and said: "I don't see any problems, I go on to the field after every game. The only problem is my players didn’t score enough goals.” It was unfortunate his actions overshadowed a wonderful game even a sodden surface could not spoil.

It was the Dons who made the first impact, in the 13th minute, when a through ball from Andrew Considine became a ticking bomb that detonated massive problems for Hearts. Christos Karapidis, in the holding role in front of the back four, failed in his mission to cut it out and then couldn’t react to snuff out the danger as Darren Mackie sped past him to slam the ball into the net.

But eight minutes later Hearts crafted a superb equaliser when Lee Wallace combined with Christian Nade and the left-back finished off the one-two with a superb strike from 15 yards to score his first goal for three years. It sparked off a period of almost complete domination by Hearts, with Bruno Aguiar pulling the strings.

The Dons came back into the match in the second half and Jared Hodgkiss was unlucky to see his shot spin off the bar to safety after Hearts failed to clear a corner. Before this at the other end, Nade, who looked lively in flashes, missed with a header from just three yards.

Langfield was forced into a full-length save to keep out Christophe Berra’s header from a Stewart free-kick, then Lee Mair came close for Aberdeen when his headed effort sneaked wide. The end-to-end action showed no signs of abating. Saulius Mikoliunas spurned a great chance as he drove the ball across the penalty box as Nade was screaming from a cut-back from the Lithuanian, then minutes later the winger was back in his own penalty box sweeping away a Considine effort which could have been the winner and then Aguiar eluded his marker, Richard Foster, only to head narrowly past. Lee Miller was the next to be deprived by the woodwork, as the Aberdeen striker drove the ball against the post.

The penalty drama followed, which posed the question why midfielder Stewart was not then booked for diving. Langfield said afterwards: “I never touched him, I pulled my arm away and it’s quite scary how far away he was at the incident. He told me afterwards he thought I was going to hit him and that’s why he went down.” And in added-on time Aberdeen were lucky not to concede the winner. Substitute Deividas Cesnauskis’s shot across the box hit the far post and from ten yards out another sub, Jamie Mole, shot over the bar with the goal gaping.

But Aberdeen have steadied their performances and manager Jimmy Calderwood was able to scoff at a report on an English radio station which suggested he would be sacked in 48 hours, with Motherwell’s Mark McGhee taking over.

Hearts: Balogh 6, Jonsson 6, Zaliukas, Berra 7, Wallace 8, Karipidis 6, Mikoliunas 5 (Cesnauskis 78min) Stewart 6, Palazuelos 5, Aguiar 8 (Ksanavicius 86min), Nade 6 (Mole 75min)

Aberdeen: Langfield 6, Hodgkiss 6, Mair 6, Diamond 6, Considine 6, Young 6, Foster 6, Severin 6, Aluko 6, Mackie 6, Miller 6 (Mulgrew 89min)

Star Man: Lee Wallace (Hearts)

Yellow cards: Hearts: Mikoliunas 42, Karipidis 90 Aberdeen: Considine 81, Langfield 90

Referee: S Conroy Attendance: 14,265

Taken from timesonline.co.uk