Levein laments ‘softer than soft’ penalty as Saints share the spoils
THE sight of Hearts manager Craig Levein making a bee-line for referee Andrew Dallas at the full-time whistle told its own story as Matty Kennedy’s penalty earned St Johnstone a point in controversial circumstances.
Arnaud Djoum had become the first Hearts player to score a goal in 589 minutes of football when he headed in the opener after just five minutes. It was also the first time St Johnstone had conceded a goal in seven matches but their riposte was perfect as Blair Alston volleyed in the equaliser 14 minutes later.
However, Olly Bozanic restored the Jambos’ lead four minutes from the break with another header that will have annoyed Tommy Wright. Yet that was nothing compared to Levein’s feelings at fulltime after Peter Haring was accused of a pull on the jersey of Saints substitute Liam Gordon to allow Kennedy to snatch what the home side will feel was a deserved point.
“Have you seen it? What’s softer than soft?” said Levein afterwards. “Listen, there might be another angle but Andrew said to [assistant] Austin [MacPhee] he saw a shirt pull. But when I looked at it the ball’s not anywhere near him. Even if he’s pulled the shirt off him it does not matter.”
However, Wright believes his men deserved victory instead of the point that stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches.
“I was disappointed to lose two points,” he said. “We were by far the better team and they barely laid a glove on us. We dealt with their physicality. They are a strong team, dangerous at set-plays but at the first we didn’t shut down the cross and then at the second we allowed the smallest man on the pitch to score.
“I was disappointed with our defending but pleased we showed character to bounce back and dominate. Only one team deserved to win the game.”