McGhee rejects Hearts criticism

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee says he has no concerns over Hearts's tactics ahead of Wednesday's league game.

Responding to claims by Dundee United boss Craig Levein that some Hearts players feign injury, McGhee said they were no longer "at those games".

"A year ago there was definitely doubt about some of the things they were up to but that's pretty much gone," he told BBC Scotland.

Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo said he was unfazed by Levein's claims.

The United boss was upset following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Hearts at Tannadice and said referees should be aware of Hearts players feigning injury.

"It is most important to concentrate on your own team and I concentrate on my team," was Laszlo's response.

"The most important thing for me is the game against Motherwell. I don't lose energy on things which are not important.

"It is not my interest to talk about Inverness, Celtic, Rangers, Dundee United or Aberdeen. Everybody has their problems but I talk about my team.

"I don't criticise the referee, the SFA, the SPL, my colleagues on the bench.

"Maybe he (Levein) was speaking from frustration but that is normal. You can lose, win or draw but if you lose against your direct competitor it is painful. My team had a good performance, with a good goalkeeper and a little bit of luck.

"If I say 'I must comment on the story from my colleague in the newspaper' I will lose my focus and, for me, my focus has to be on my team."

McGhee, who turned down the job at Tynecastle before Laszlo was recruited, defended the Edinburgh club, adding that he had no fears about facing them.

"I trust totally that the referees understand exactly what's going on," he said. "But I don't see Hearts as a team who are still at those games.

"I think the Hearts players are enjoying winning, competing and I think it's fairly straightforward."

The Steelmen travel to Tynecastle on the back of a nine-game unbeaten league run and find themselves nine points behind third-placed Hearts.

Taken from the BBC