Levein in a rage as Collum ignores ‘blatant’ penalties

CRAIG LEVEIN hit out at referee Willie Collum last night after the official turned down what looked like two stonewall penalties for Hearts during their 1-1 home draw with Motherwell.

The Tynecastle manager was frustrated at the way his defence, seeing their club record of minutes without conceding a goal end at 831, let in a stoppage-time equaliser from Curtis Main after getting in front late on through substitute David Milinkovic.

However, he was also upset by Collum’s refusal to point to the spot when Ross Callachan was brought down in the box by Tom Aldred on 24 minutes and then turn a blind eye again eight minutes later when Cedric Kipre appeared to handle a Callachan header in the penalty box.

‘A lot of things happened that I was disappointed in,’ said Levein. ‘For the life of me, I do not know how we didn’t get two penalties in the first half, having seen both situations on video.

‘I asked Willie at half-time and he said their player (Aldred) definitely touched the ball. He didn’t. It’s the most blatant penalty you’ll see all year.

‘Then the other one, the handball, is also blatant.

‘I’m disappointed in Willie’s performance and for my players and the effort they put into the game after two particularly hard matches recently. To be in front going into the fifth minute of injury time, then to lose a goal was extremely disappointing.

‘I’m disappointed that by giving away two free-kicks we invited the pressure of six or seven of their players into our box.’

Main insists he had no doubt his stoppage-time header had crossed the line and warned Premiership defences that he and partner Nadir Ciftci will be a real force to be reckoned with when they are fully fit.

‘I saw it clearly that the ball was over,’ said the striker. ‘I have felt right at home at Motherwell and we have clicked straight away.

‘I have just played three games in seven days after not playing a great deal for the previous three months.

‘I have a lot more to give and my performance levels will keep going up the fitter I get. Nadir and I both sense that things can happen when we are both firing as there is a spark there.’

Fir Park manager Stephen Robinson, meanwhile, insists he was disappointed not to have won.

‘I thought it (a point) was thoroughly deserved,’ said Robinson. ‘In fact, I’m disappointed we didn’t take all three points.

‘We were chasing at the end of the game and throwing everything at it and I think that shows the spirit we have.’