Hearts lose; Sergio loses it

Graeme Macpherson

29 Oct 2011

HEARTS aren’t speaking to the media just now, which is maybe just as well.

Had manager Paulo Sergio been given a platform from which to articulate his list of grievances after this contentious defeat we could well have been at Tynecastle well into the night.

The home side, it is probably safe to guess, felt referee Alan Muir and his assistants gave them a raw deal, most notably in the decision to award Kilmarnock a second-half penalty that was converted by Dean Shiels for the only goal of the game. Sergio seethed at that call, and continued to rail at the referee and his fourth official throughout the second half until the manager was eventually sent to the stand – or the enclosure to be more accurate – apparently for striking the dug-out.

He did not go quietly either, jabbing a finger accusingly at the officials as he was effectively dragged away like a truculent child. The Portuguese is due at Hampden later this week to explain comments made about Iain Brines, another referee – the incident that led to the media blackout – and will likely be heading back along the M8 again in the not-too-distant future to explain his conduct here.

Hearts’ indiscipline was not restricted to their manager. Ian Black was sent off after just 16 minutes and that set the tone for a frustrating afternoon for the home team, who had a further four players booked. Come the end, Tynecastle was seething with indignation. They could have snatched a point right at the death through substitute Gordon Smith but by then it had become apparent that this wasn’t going to be their day. On top of the unpaid wages row and the huff with the media, Hearts do not have their troubles to seek right now.

He railed at the referee throughout the second half

Whereas Sergio and his players elected to keep their counsel, Kenny Shiels had no problem giving his thoughts on the game. And the Kilmarnock manager didn’t hold back. “We know that Hearts are the most aggressive team in the league,” he said. “And we had to stand up to that. We were ready for a battle. There were a lot of players who were lucky to stay on the pitch in the Hearts team. The referee could have sent off a couple more. Hearts were claiming for everything, it was a joke at times. It just went on and on and on. The directive for our players today was to not get involved in any aggression. But the bad temper was only coming from one side.”

The various controversies overshadowed what was, in spells, a decent Hearts performance. Even Black’s early sending- off – for a reckless lunge on Shiels – failed to interrupt their momentum, as they continued to control the game despite being one fewer in number. The only surprise was that they didn’t find the goal their play merited.

Not that they were without chances. Andy Webster headed wide three times from corners, Danny Grainger fizzed a free- kick wide, Ryan Stevenson was denied from close range, Black shot over, and Rudi Skacel had two decent efforts that came close. Hearts also hollered for a first half-penalty for handball – a mis-hit Jamie Hamill shot appeared to strike Alex Pursehouse’s arm – but the referee shook his head and waved play on. Sergio could barely contain his frustration.

This was Kilmarnock’s first away win of the season and they were made to work hard for it, the penalty being their only real shot on target. Referee Muir initially seemed intent on playing on after Marius Zaliukas had nudged Paul Heffernan to the ground, but his assistant Stuart MacCaulay intervened and the spot-kick was awarded. Shiels Jr casually stroked home the penalty, and then the red mist descended over Sergio.

Taken from the Herald