Dee boss Mcpake slams Neilson after Griffiths runs the gauntlet

Tension boils over at Tynecastle as fans target striker

Dundee boss James Mcpake accused Robbie Neilson of stoking up an atmosphere yesterday that led to Leigh Griffiths being subjected to vile abuse.

The striker was barracked by fans during the 1-1 draw, and there were chants referring to alleged incidents in his private life.

Mcpake also believes Neilson referring to tension between the clubs following the SPFL vote that led to Hearts being relegated in 2020 did nothing to calm things.

He said: “I don’t think it helps when we are talking about things like that – opposition managers coming out and saying it’s going to be a white-hot atmosphere.

“It’s stoking the fire. Leigh (right) is already a target, we know that. And we’ve played them three times since the vote, and he was the Dundee United manager at the time.”