BANNY MacPHEE
Austin and Levein in dock
Hearts assistant Austin MacPhee could face an SFA hammering after being sent to the stand for pul l ing Hami lton’s Darian MacKinnon to the ground in a touchline bust-up during yesterday’s powderkeg clash.
And Jambos boss Craig Levein was also sent packing for refusing to walk to ref Bobby Madden for a lecture in a stormy 1-1 draw that saw Hearts star Jamie Brandon red-carded for an elbow Antonio Rojano.
Levein was raging with Madden for all three dismissals and claimed MacKinnon should have also seen red for a “rugby tackle” on MacPhee.
But Accies gaffer Martin Canning hit back and said: “Darian didn’t rugby tackle him. When you see it back MacPhee pulled him
on top of him. He completely provoked him and that’s why he was sent to the stand – because the referee and fourth official could see exactly what I did.
“MacPhee grabbed Da r ian and it was brinkmanship, maybe sportsmanship.
“It was trying to even it up a bit and that’s why I took Darian off. I thought he did great not to get involved or provoked.
“I’ve had to remove a player from the pitch because one of the coaches has literally pulled him on top of him to try and get him sent off.
“The referee has a difficult job and when I watch it back he got the big decisions right.”
Levein disagreed and said: “I don’t know how Austin can be blamed for that situation. He had a hold of the ball and he was rugby tackled.
“I don’t see how that was his doing? If one player is holding the ball on the field and another player rugby tackles him, both players are penalised.
“MacKinnon had already been booked so why did he not get a yellow? Why was Austin sent to the stand and there was no punishment for MacKinnon? “It doesn’t make sense. “I have written to the SFA in the past but all you get is platitudes.”
Levein was also left mystified over his own dismissal and said: “I was frustrated at the amount of mistakes the referee was making but I have no idea why he sent me off. He never told me.
“Do I think he should have come to me? He ran 25 yards, why not run another five? Other than just to show wh o ’ s the gaffer? It’s stupid.
“I don’t think I did anything wrong. He didn’t tell me why I was sent to the stand but if it was for not walking four yards, that’s bizarre. We are grown men. I’d have thought we were beyond all of that.”
Asked if Madden had lost control, Levein added: “Those are your words. I’d agree with that.”
Brandon’s red card was another bone of contention for the Hearts boss who said: “I haven’t seen the incident back yet but their player should get 10/10 for squealing. It was great work on his behalf to try to suck the ref in.”
But Canning said: “Their player swung an arm and caught him in the face.
“I’d like to see anyone else take an elbow to the face and not squeal.”