Jambos knocked out in controversial style

BARRY ANDERSON
AT TYNECASTLE
Goal - Lovell 59
AMID two red cards, a rescinded penalty award and a sub-standard display of refereeing, Hearts exited the Scottish Cup against Falkirk as Steve Lovell's headed goal proved sufficient to take the visitors into the quarter-finals.

The striker nodded a lofted ball by Jackie McNamara in off the crossbar shortly before the hour mark and Hearts, for all their pressure, could not source an equaliser. The hosts were awarded a penalty by referee Dougie McDonald but, for the second time this season, they did not get to take it. Dean Holden was initially judged to have fouled Andy Driver but McDonald, on the advice of his assistant, Chris Young, chose to backtrack and give a corner.

Marius Zaliukas was then dismissed for impeding Carl Finnigan, even though the Lithuanian seemed to be wrestled down by his opponent. Scott Arfield also walked early for two bookable offences at the end of a second half littered with controversy.

With goalkeeper Janos Balogh reinstated in place of Jamie MacDonald, Csaba Laszlo's most curious decision was deploying Eggert Jonsson at centre-forward. He was supported by Gary Glen with Christian Nade having failed a fitness test, and Christos Karipidis reverted to centre-back alongside Zaliukas.

Falkirk named an unchanged team from last weekend's victory over Aberdeen, meaning a return to Tynecastle for the former Hearts mainstays Steven Pressley and Neil McCann. They were backed by a vociferous travelling support numbering over 1500, but Hearts almost silenced the visitors inside three minutes as Lee Wallace stung the palms of Dani Mallo following an intelligent one-two with Driver. Bruno Aguiar also exercised the Falkirk goalkeeper during the opening exchanges as the home side seized the initiative.

Glen ought to have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute but stroked the ball wide from Driver's cutback, which followed a scintillating run down the flank from Wallace. It was obvious Hearts were seeking to maximise the pace on their left flank, as Driver and Wallace took it in turns to scamper past McNamara and Darren Barr.
Falkirk, in contrast, offered plenty tidy football around midfield but had little impact in the final third during the first half. Their best opportunity from open play came via Scott Arfield's through ball to Lovell, but Balogh showed a decent turn of pace to reach the ball first with the striker bearing down. On 38 minutes, Lee Bullen hoisted a free-kick deep into Hearts territory and Michael Higdon beat a posse of home players, including Balogh, in the air but his header dropped narrowly wide of goal.

The game's most scintillating forward move came four minutes from the interval. Aguiar showed breathtaking vision with a pass in behind the Falkirk defence to Robbie Neilson. He pulled the ball back for Glen, however Mallo's instinctive save ensured Hearts' only reward was a corner.

Play resumed in the second half with the hosts revelling in their superiority. However a goal remained elusive and the continuing stalemate accorded Falkirk increasing confidence. Just before the hour John Hughes' side moved ahead in controversial circumstances. Bullen's free-kick was cleared but instantly returned to the penalty area via McNamara. With all in maroon awaiting a whistle for offside, Lovell's header looped over Balogh and bounced down just over the line. Substitute Finnigan made sure by ramming the ball into the rigging as the Hearts defenders appealed in vain to the match officials.

After Higdon had a goal disallowed for offside, the home players had even more cause for complaint when they were awarded and then denied a penalty kick. Referee McDonald, already the scourge of Tynecastle natives, pointed to the spot when Driver fell under Holden's challenge. However, after consultation with his far-side assistant, McDonald awarded a corner.

It was the second time this season an assistant had overruled a referee to rescind the award of a penalty to Hearts - the same thing happened against Aberdeen at Tynecastle - and only served to increase Laszlo's frustration. He replaced Jonsson with Kingston and Glen with Elliot to provide fresh attacking impetus. Karipidis had an opportunity from an Aguiar corner but Pressley blocked his left-footed attempt.

By now this game had evolved into the proverbial rip-snorting cup tie. Late tackles, niggling confrontations and contentious refereeing combined to keep everyone inside the stadium engrossed. Nine minutes from time, Zaliukas chasing a loping through ball with Finnigan and, with both players more intent on wrestling that collecting the pass, they fell to the turf. Cue McDonald with a straight red card for Zaliukas for a professional foul.

Hearts' task was now considerably more difficult given the numerical disadvantage, and even the late dismissal of Riera came too late to make a difference. By full-time the Edinburgh side were left to curse more questionable SFA officialdom in addition to their missed chances earlier in the game, but Falkirk departed in jubilation at their cup progress.

Falkirk (5-3-2): Mallo; McNamara, Barr, Pressley, Bullen, Holden; Arfield, Riera, McCann; Lovell, Higdon. Subs: Olejnik, O'Brien 87 (for McCann), Cregg 87 (for McNamara), Finnigan 56 (for Riera), Stewart.

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Balogh; Neilson, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Wallace; Obua, Stewart, Aguiar, Driver; Glen; Jonsson. Subs: Kello, Thomson, Elliot 67 (for Glen), Mrowiec, Kingston 60 (for Jonsson).

Referee: Dougie McDonald.

Attendance: 14,569.

Taken from the Scotsman