Hibs ace hits back at ‘dive’ critics

MARTIN BOYLE has hit back at claims he’s con man – and insisted he’s one of the most kicked players in the country.

The Hibs ace was stung by his yellow card for diving in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox – just a couple of weeks after Ross County boss John Hughes accused the attacker of taking a tumble in the box to win a penalty in Dingwall.

Boyle insisted he wasn’t even looking for a spot-kick in the Gers clash and he was upset with Yogi’s complaints about a Highland fling.

“I felt those comments from Hughes were a bit bizarre at the time. I haven’t commented on them before now but that one up there was a clear penalty and the second one was all about the way I’m moving and the fact there was slight contact. If you feel contact, that’s it. “I am being shown stats that say I’m the most fouled player in the league and in some games I get taken out 10-12 times and I could get multiple people booked but no one speaks about that. “I get some unbelievable tackles on me and nothing is said about that and I’m the sort of guy who just brushes it aside, gets up and gets

BY MICHAEL GANNON on with my game. I continue to try to get on the ball as often as I can.”

Boyle was adamant ref Don Robertson was out of line hitting him with a card on Sunday.

He said: “I just got bundled over and I wasn’t even claiming for the penalty. I went for the ball and I just wasn’t strong enough and was brushed aside by the big boys.

“I said to the referee at half time that I didn’t think it was a yellow card because I wasn’t wanting a penalty, I was just bundled over because I wasn’t strong enough.

“When I spoke to the referee at half-time he said he was right and that I was playing for it.

“But I was just going for the ball and it was one of those which then put me at risk for the rest of the game.

“I was a bit disappointed. There was nothing in it and I was just pushed off the ball. The referee said I put my foot over him to try to get the ball and that is what I need to do.

“I did that at Ross County and I won the penalty. I didn’t feel there was enough for it to be a penalty but it wasn’t a dive.”

Boyle was disappointed with the card and the result but he is convinced Hibs are on the road to clinching third spot in the Premiership after another impressive performance against the new champions.

He said: “We had chances and we knew that if we came here and didn’t take our chances then we would be punished at the other end.

“They are a great team but we played well in spells and we are disappointed not to take something from it. We will go back to the drawing board and focus on the Scottish Cup at Stranraer, which will be a tricky tie.”