Gordon rages over spot-kick which ‘wasn’t a penalty’
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon admits he’s still “absolutely mad” at how his clean sheet run came to an end on Friday night.
The Jambos captain had hoped to make it four consecutive shutouts – the first time Hearts would have managed such a feat in more than three years – against Queen of the South at Palmerston.
But the ex-scottish internationalist was beaten by Ayo Obileye’s cool spot-kick in the final moments of the first half.
However, Gordon feels Queens forward Isaiah Jones initiated contact with defender Stephen Kingsley and a penalty shouldn’t have been given.
He said: “I just think it wasn’t a penalty – simple as that. It’s on the linesman’s side and they give penalties for that now.
“I’m really unhappy about it. I was going for four clean sheets and then that’s the goal you lose.
“I am still absolutely
mad about that. I’m trying to remain calm and chose my words carefully, but I’m really upset that was the reason and the way we lost it.
“It looked like, at the time, the Queen of the South player moved his leg to make contact. But that’s what strikers do now. You just hope that the officials see if that’s the person who initiates the contact. But, if they don’t, they get a penalty.
“I’m just disappointed that’s the goal that put us behind and stopped me getting four clean sheets.”
Gordon also received a yellow card after disagreeing with referee Colin Steven’s decision to book Craig Halkett after he was deemed to foul Dapo Mebude.
He said: “Again, I didn’t think that was a foul. The defender is in front of him and he’s trying to shield the ball.
“It was just the fact when you’ve a big defender up against a small, quick striker, it can sometimes look worse when they bounce off quite so dramatically.
“But, from my point of view, Craig is in front and he’s using his body strength to shield the ball.”
Hearts were lethargic throughout the contest at a bitterly cold Dumfries, but the ever-reliable Liam Boyce bailed Robbie Neilson’s men out with a last-minute penalty to claim a point.
Gordon believes, despite not being near their fluent best, they showed character to take something from the match.
He said: “It was a hardfought point to come from behind. We kept going, I’m sure it wasn’t pretty at times, but we didn’t actually play as well as we could.
“We started the game not too badly, but to come from behind away from home is always difficult when you lose the first goal.
“Having to go away from home and playing on an astro pitch that’s one of the older ones, it’s difficult. You have to try and win games no matter how you manage to do it.”