Hearts 0-1 Falkirk

Feb 8 2009 Mark Guidi Reports

A CONTROVERSIAL winning goal from Bairns striker Stevie Lovell.

Referee Dougie McDonald awarding a penalty to Hearts then changing his mind to give them just a corner.

Two red cards, nine bookings and more than five minutes of stoppage time.

Whistler McDonald being booed and called a cheat by furious Jambos fans as they rounded on him at full-time.

This was a good old-fashioned cup tie, full of drama and difference of opinion. Let's hope there are many more to come.

In the end Lovell's second-half header sent Falkirk into the quarter-finals and both teams finished with 10 men after Marius Zaliukas and Scott Arfield were sent packing.

All the drama came in a thrilling second half as the opening 45 minutes were a non-event.

Both sides struggled to get going although Hearts were in control and seemed the more likely to break the deadlock.

Winger Andrew Driver was in good form down the left and the Falkirk defence found it difficult to cope with his pace.

However, the two best chances Hearts carved out in the first half both fell to Gary Glen.

The youngster was given a sight of goal in 23 minutes but failed to hit the target from 10 yards.

He was then denied four minutes before the break when his powerful shot was superbly saved by Bairns keeper Dani Mallo.

Falkirk were on the back foot for most of the half and couldn't put more than two passes together when they did have possession.

They rarely got out of their own half although Lovell was denied by brave goalkeeping from Janos Balogh who dived at the striker's feet just as he was ready to shoot.

The fans were entitled to more quality - and they got it after the break as the game came to life.

Both managers resisted the temptation to make changes during the interval although Falkirk's Arnau Riera made way for Carl Finnigan in 56 minutes.

Hearts continued to press but were stunned in 59 minutes when the Bairns grabbed the opener.

Lovell got on the end of a Jackie McNamara ball and his header came off the underside of the bar and bounced over the line.

Finnigan followed up to make sure but Hearts appealed for offside and the Jambos may well have had a case.

Falkirk had the ball in the net again moments later through striker Michael Higdon but this time linesman Martin Cryans did raise his flag.

There was more controversy in 61 minutes when McDonald awarded Hearts a penalty after Driver went down under a Dean Holden challenge.

The defender appeared to play the ball and Falkirk protested as Bruno Aguiar stood waiting to hit the penalty.

They asked McDonald to consult his assistant and the ref was big enough to change his mind after talking to Chris Young.

Csaba Laszlo brought on Laryea Kingston and Calum Elliot for Eggert Jonsson and Glen as Hearts pushed for a leveller.

But they never got any change out of Steven Pressley, Lee Bullen and Darren Barr who were as brave as lions at the back. The Bairns were still made to sweat though as Driver hit the bar in 75 minutes before Aguiar fired a free-kick just a yard wide.

Referee McDonald took more stick from the Jambos fans in 82 minutes when he sent off Zaliukas for pulling down Finnigan But the big defender was the last man and deserved to go. Falkirk star Arfield can also have no complaints about his late dismissal when he picked up a second yellow for a foul on David Obua.

Hearts pushed for a goal to keep them in the competition but just couldn't find a way through.

And as McDonald made his way off the pitch at full-time dozens of Hearts fans made their way to the tunnel to hurl abuse at him and his assistants.

There was no such criticism from the Falkirk players or fans.

The Bairns go into today's quarter-final draw and - for their ability to defend and take a chance - they just about deserve it.

REF WATCH

DOUGIE McDONALD admitted he made a mistake awarding Hearts a penalty and should be applauded for that. Turned in a good performance and got the red and yellow cards right but the whistler was let down by his assistants at times. Rating: 7/10.

Taken from the Sunday Mail