Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald didn't see ball cross the line – and he's happy ref didn't either

Michael Gannon

TYNECASTLE shot-stopper says he was clutching fresh air at the time Leigh Griffiths' free kick strike was sailing past him.

JAMIE MACDONALD insists he didn’t see Leigh Griffiths’ free-kick bounce over the line – and is grateful referee Euan Norris didn’t either.

The Hearts keeper was beaten by the striker’s stunning 35-yard effort as it bounced off the bar and landed a yard over the goal-line before spinning back out.

The Hibs fans celebrated but Norris and his assistant Raymond Whyte didn’t clock it and the Jambos survived.

MacDonald breathed a huge sigh of relief but felt justice was done as his side should have been awarded a penalty when Callum Tapping went tumbling in the Hibs box earlier in the second half.

The Tynecastle No.1 said: “I didn't see the free kick go in – I was clutching fresh air at the time! It was a good strike but I couldn’t tell if it was over the line.

“It wasn’t in because the score was 0-0 and the most important man on the park didn't see it. If I’d saved it and a goal was given I would have been raging but these things are part and parcel of football.

“It’s maybe the little bit of luck we deserve. There have been plenty of incidents this season that have gone against us and we should have had a penalty at the other end when Callum was pushed. So it maybe evens itself out.”

MacDonald insists Hearts will now head to Hampden with a spring in their step after emerging from Easter Road with a hard-earned point.

The Jambos face St Mirren in the League Cup Final on Sunday and after coming through a torrid time the Tynecastle men are in far better shape to go for glory.

The derby came hot on the heels of a 2-0 win over St Johnstone and MacDonald claims confidence is high. He said: “With the way things have been going it was a decent point. We had five defeats in a row but that’s now four points out of six.

“It’s also two clean sheets in a row and we have a little bit of momentum going in to the cup final.

“We’re not going to Hampden on the back of a couple of defeats. The cup was the furthest thing from our minds because we had a derby to prepare for and wanted the three points to stay in with a chance of getting in the top six.

“We had a few good chances but it was a typical derby and we’ll take the point.”

Stand-in Jambos boss Gary Locke knows better than most what it takes to come out on top in a derby, having spent nine years of his playing career at Hearts.

And he was delighted with his side’s battling qualities as they ground out a point against Pat Fenlon’s men.

Locke admitted the Jambos got lucky late on with the goal that never was – but he was far more concerned with his own team’s performance.

He said: “I’ve just seen the Griffiths shot and obviously it’s in. But the ref didn’t give it and that’s the most important thing. There’s no point in me worrying about it.

“It was a great strike and it’s over the line so it’s one we’ve got away with. But maybe that’s our luck turning a wee bit.

“We deserved a point but it wasn’t a great game to watch. I was really pleased with the effort and commitment of our boys though and we could have had a goal or two from set-pieces.

“The main thing was to put in a battling display and the players were first class in that regard. We’ve had a victory and a draw in the last two games so hopefully we’re building a bit of momentum.”

Taken from the Daily Record