Houston lashes out at Dunfermline conduct
FALKIRK manager Peter Houston has savaged bitter rivals Dunfermline for a lack of professionalism in the aftermath of the Myles Hippolyte diving storm — despite confirming he will accept the two-game ban dished out to the striker by the SFA yesterday.
The Bairns claimed a 2-1 win in an explosive derby clash on Saturday, with the turning point coming when Hippolyte plunged to the turf under a tackle from Pars goalkeeper Sean Murdoch.
Aaron Muirhead slotted home the penalty to cancel out Nicky Clark’s opener before Nathan Austin bagged the winner.
However, the spot-kick controversy overshadowed the result, with Dunfermline’s official Twitter account stoking the fire by posting a video of the incident — complete with emojis indicating the player was a diver — online after the match.
Pars captain Andy Geggan insisted action must be taken to stamp out simulation, while Murdoch accused Hippolyte of ‘conning’ referee Gavin Duncan and stated he should be banned.
Dunfermline got their wish yesterday when SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan issued a notice of complaint offering a two-match ban, which Hippolyte has accepted, with Houston conceding his player ‘duped’ the whistler.
However, the Bairns boss is seething at the Fifers’ conduct, saying: ‘I think Dunfermline have been so unprofessional in some of the comments, Tweets and other things I’ve seen.
‘Murdoch and Geggan have been quick to criticise Myles, but I haven’t seen any for their team-mate (David Hopkirk), who was booked for doing exactly the same thing.
‘I understand the frustration, but it was seven minutes into the second half. For them to say it cost them the game shows that they lost their composure, their professionalism and the match.
‘We’ll move on from it, but we are disappointed in some of the reactions from Dunfermline. Even to the extent of their management team getting the wrong player, Nathan Austin, and accusing him of diving. They later apologised to him, but they got that wrong.’
Houston pointedly added: ‘We have taken ten points from 12 against them this season and it could have been 12 if not for a debatable penalty given against Tom Taiwo in December. We didn’t complain about it and cry like babies.’
Houston also took umbrage with Murdoch suggesting that the fixture was ‘too big’ for Duncan, and revealed he plans to phone the SFA’s head of refereeing John Fleming to praise the official’s showing.
He continued: ‘Myles comes across, Murdoch palms it away in the direction that the ball would have gone if Myles had got the first touch. I sympathise with the referee.
‘The stuff coming out from Dunfermline is nonsense. He got one decision wrong in the match. I’ll phone John Fleming and praise his performance.’
Hippolyte, meanwhile, will be punished for his indiscretion, Houston has confirmed. The Bairns boss said: ‘He duped the referee into thinking there was a touch. I will speak to Myles and he will be punished. I don’t want that at Falkirk.’