Irate Bruce accuses Hibs manager of lacking class
● Heckingbottom angers Killie defender with ‘diver’ comment as he interrupts Rugby Park press conference
WAR OF WORDS
Alex Bruce accused Hibernian boss Paul Heckingbottom of lacking class after he interrupted a press conference to brand the Kilmarnock defender a diver.
B u t n o - o n e i n s i d e R u g b y Park could deny that the home s i d e h a d s h ow n mor e t h a n enough qualit y to outshine their guests, even if the only goal of the game arrive d i n contentious circumstances.
T h e 3 2 n d - m i n u t e g o a l , w h i c h w a s u l t i m a t e l y d i s - patched clinically from the spot by Eamonn Brophy, was enough to earn Kilmarnock three points and a return to third spot as the Premiership campaign now heads into its final round of fixtures.
H o l d i n g t h e a d v a n t a g e ove r r iva l s Ab e r d e e n , a l b e - i t t h r o u g h g o a l d i f f e r e n c e , they know that a victory over Rangers on Sunday would be e n o u g h t o g u a r a n t e e t h e m a Europa League qualifying spot, unless Hibernian lose by a glut of goals to the Dons.
If they were to lose out on goal difference, Killie would rue days such as Saturday when they should have scored more against the Leith side and they will curse the inter vention of goalkeeper Ofir Marciano as well as their own failings in those key moments.
The fact they only converted one of their chances probably only fuelled the frustration of the Hibs boss, pictured, who, like most in the ground, felt the p enalt y award was soft. But the way he expressed his disapp ointment, calling his former Sheffield Wednesday team-mate a “f *****g diver” as he walked past the press huddle, angered Bruce, who asked if he was “for real”. Having repeated his claim several times, Heckingbottom later said that his comment was open to interpretation b u t r e f u s e d t o c a t e - gorically state whether it had been banter or delivered with real venom.
“I think that lacked class,” said t he v isibly ira te Br uce. “He’s an old team-mate of mine and I expected better of him. If he had something to say to me then he should have done it in private. I’m certainly not a diver, that’s for sure.”
Referee Andrew Dallas gave the penalty when he deemed David Gray to be too physical with his Kilmarnock opponent at a corner and Bruce said there s h o u l d b e l i t t l e s u r p r i s e as he had already been warned. “The referee actually said to Gray at the previous corner to keep his hands off me. It was in my mind that if he is going to put his hands on me again then the ref will give the decision. It was a big goal and an important goal for us as it turned out,” said Bruce.
It was all that separated the sides come the final whistle. But despite the war of words, H e c k i n g b o t t o m a d m i t t e d that his team had ultimately got what they deser ved. No one was arguing about that.
From the outset the home s i d e h a d b e e n t h e b e t t e r o p t i o n g o i n g f o r wa r d a n d d e s p i t e t h e s t a k e s l o o k e d composed and in control of the game throughout.
T h e r e w e r e o t h e r g o a l - m o u t h c h a n c e s b u t G r e g Taylor crashed a cross cum shot off the bar and Marciano was in top form as he denied Brophy on several occasions and snuffed out the dangers posed by some quality Chris Burke set-piece deliveries. But the best save of the lot was a sensational close-range stop f r o m t h e i mp r e s s ive G a r y Dicker.
“It was a good save,” said the Israeli. “I saw it late, so it was a q u i c k r e a c t i o n . B u t I a m happy that I was able to push it away, because it was going in.”
For all Killie’s superiorit y, they too had to rely on their goalie late on when substitute T ho mas Ag yep on g c a r ved open a chance to drill an effort which Daniel Bachmann had to tip over the bar.
But now it all comes down to next weekend, with the Killie players determined not to let a stunning season end on a low. “The aim is to finish the job next week,” said Bruce. “It will be a tough match against Rangers, we know that from previous encounters this season. We will have to approach it right and fingers crossed we can match Aberdeen’s result and get into Europe.”
“He’s an old team-mate of mine and I expected better of him. If he had something to say to me then he should have done it in private”
ALEX BRUCE