REF HAD A BRASS NEK Robbo fuming after Don snubs spot shout for Zlamal challenge
Well manager Stephen Robinson was adamant his side should have been given the chance to kill Hearts off from the spot.
Chris Long gave the Fir Park side a f irst- hal f lead after punishing Craig Halkett for some slack play but Conor Washington levelled for the Jambos shortly after half-time. However, Robinson believes his team should have been given the chance to double their lead before it go to that stage. Referee Don Robertson saw no issue with a challenge by Hearts keeper Zdenek Zlamal on Jermaine Hyl ton but Robinson claimed he should have pointed to the spot. He said: “Everyone that was watching knows it should have been a penalty.
“It was a two-footed tackle at 1- 0 and, if we score, then they need to come out, press us high and go for it. The game could have a different ending with us getting three points. “If we had the technology other countries have got then perhaps that would help. He thought Jermaine was on his way down and he probably was – but that doesn’t change the fact he has been caught. “Sometimes you get these things and sometimes you don’t. We came with a game plan, we knew Hearts would press us higher up the pitch and go quite direct.
“We had pace and energy on the counter- attack and although we sometimes made the wrong decision with the ball we created a lot of chances.
“To come to Tynecastle and be slightly disappointed not to take all three points shows how far we have come.”
Robinson lost highly-rated midfielder Allan Campbell to injury early in the first half, giving his manager real cause for concern.
He added: “It’s not good for us because the wee man doesn’t come off too often.
“We’ll assess that over the rest of the weekend. Hopefully we’ll have him back soon.”
Declan Gallagher should have done better with a free header from a Liam Polworth corner after 15 minutes but nodded straight at Zlamal.
The Czech keeper then booted the ball downfield and while Mark Gillespie came out of his box and took the ball on his chest, he gave possession straight to Sean Clare.
The Englishman’s long-range effort would’ve caught him out but for Liam Grimshaw clearing on the line.
A bad mistake from Halkett then handed Well the lead. The centre-back was far too casual with an attempted clearance which was charged down by Long, who raced through, rounded Zlamal and rolled home. Similar persistence from Lewis Moore almost brought Hearts level.
He managed to nick two bouncing balls away from the Well defence before sliding in Steven Naismith but the captain’s finish was deflected inches wide of the far post.
Hearts were then almost undone on the break again after a mix-up cost possession in the middle of the pitch, which invited Motherwell to tear forward on the break and create a four against two.
That came to an end when Hylton tried to round Zlamal and went down. Whistler Robertson gave a goal-kick to little protest from the away players , although their manager would end up with plenty to say about the decision.
A knock-down from Naismith then gave Washington a sight of goal but the
Jambos hitman blazed his volley over. Stendel threw on Liam Boyce at the break and saw his team level within five minutes of the restart.
Naismith cut back from the byeline and picked out Washington who slid the ball in from close range.
Polworth spurned a great chance to put the Steelmen back in front when he headed straight at Zlamal before Long hit a tame rebound that produced the same outcome.
The Hearts keeper was made to work far harder when Hylton fizzed a volley towards the far post that needed tipped wide.
Washington and Naismith combined again as Hearts sought a stoppage-time winner but the Scot couldn’t sort out his feet quick enough to turn home the cut-back.
Boyce then took a fresh-air shot before the ball ran for Michael Smith but the rightback did no better than his Northern I r ish teammate and f ired over.