Angry Lennon calls for video technology after Hibs denied win

NEIL Lennon’s Hibernian left Tynecastle with a sense of injustice after seeing an early strike from Oli Shaw not given as the Edinburgh derby against Hearts ended goalless.

The Lurgan native’s side thought they had taken the lead on six minutes when a closerange effort from Shaw came back off the underside of the bar and looked to have bounced over the line, but was not given.

“It’s well over the line,” Lennon said. “It’s a goal, everyone can see it, and you can tell by the way the ball comes out at the angle it does.

“We were by far the better team for long periods on a very, very difficult pitch. I pay tribute to my players, they were outstanding in difficult circumstances, but I should be sitting here talking about a great win.

“I know we’re on about video refereeing. Sky are here, if the fourth official goes and looks at a monitor he can give Steven (McLean, referee) a shout and say, ‘By the way, that’s a goal’.

“This is a huge game. It’s live on TV and it’s making a mockery of the game sometimes.”

Hibs stay in fourth place, five points clear of their city rivals, who remain just a place behind them. Aberdeen closed the gap on leaders Celtic back down to eight points after a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle at Pittodrie.

Adam Rooney netted just after the hour when he slotted in after good work from Ryan Christie down the wing. Ross County re- covered from conceding an early goal to draw 1-1 against Ulsterman Tommy Wright’s St Johnstone in Dingwall to move above Thistle in the table.

The visitors got off to a flying start when on-loan Colchester forward Denny Johnstone headed them in front after 75 seconds.

County equalised in the 54th minute. Alex Schalk converted from the penalty spot after Chris Eagles had been fouled by Joe Shaughnessy.

Wright slammed the penalty decision, saying: “It is conten- tious. Our players are adamant it was outside the box and I’ve seen it back: it’s impossible for the referee from the view he had to say 100 per cent that it’s in the box. Chris Millar’s feet never go in the box so it’s a tough decision but you have to make sure that you’re 100 per cent because they have big consequences.”

Hamilton’s match against Kilmarnock at the SuperSeal Stadium was called off at 6.25pm after the artificial pitch was deemed unplayable because of the freezing conditions in Lanarkshire. Not happy: Neil Lennon wants television replays in Scotland