Neilson glad his side showed a bit of Heart
HEARTS 1 Ginnelly (90+7) LIVINGSTON 1 Kelly (55)
The spoils were not the only thing shared by Robbie Neilson and Davie Martindale at Tynecastle yesterday as both managers criticised match official Craig Napier and VAR.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson described the afternoon as a “shambles” and claimed his frustration over the refereeing aid was the source of his exuberant celebrations after seeing Josh Ginnelly net a 97th minute equaliser.
Neilson, whose team were trailing to Stephen Kelly’s 55th minute strike and down to ten men after Kye Rowles was shown a retrospective red card in the 75th minute for pulling on Joel Nouble’s jersey in the box, ran on to the pitch and fell to his knees with his hands raised in the air.
However, Neilson was aggrieved by the decision to send Rowles off and by the constant VAR interruptions on a chaotic afternoon.
Livingston were also angered that decisions went against them, namely a handball by Alan Forrest in the build-up to Ginnelly’s goal.
Lions manager Davie Martindale was also stunned that Hearts were not reduced to nine men following Alex Cochrane’s robust challenge on Nicky Devlin.
“It was a shambles, wasn’t it? remarked Neilson.
“We’ve got this period now where hopefully it gets better.
“I asked the fourth official (Peter Stuart) the rules on it and he didn’t know.
“Rowles pulls him back, 100%. But then he goes on and gets a shot away. Are you denying a goalscoring opportunity? You’ve still got a goalscoring opportunity. The play goes on and there’s three or four phases.”
Asked for the reason why he celebrated in the manner he did, Neilson replied: “It was out of pure frustration after what a shambles of a day it became.”
In-between being ponderous on the ball in the first half, Hearts caused problems when they burst into life, Lawrence Shankland and Ginnelly both going close to scoring.
As the game passed the halfway stage of the first period, the stats showed Hearts had 80% possession, but clear-cut openings were proving difficult to come by.
Livingston goalkeeper Ivan Konvalov, making his first league appearance of the season, made another good block just before the break to keep out a Shankland drive.
It was Livingston, however, who could easily have led at half time. Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon spilled a Sean Kelly shot and then blocked a Stephen Kelly header at his post before Ginnelly kept a Jack Fitzwater header out on the goal line from the resulting corner.
Livingston did find a way to goal ten minutes into the second period. Andy Shinnie brought down a Konovalov kick up the park and squared the ball to Stephen Kelly.
Using Nouble as a decoy to his left, the former Rangers struck a fine drive low into the left corner of the net.
Livingston should have gone further ahead but Rowles, who had only minutes earlier cracked a header off the bar, had his afternoon cut short for pulling on Nouble’s jersey.
Sean Kelly stepped up but had his penalty saved.
Despite being a man down, Hearts pressed at the end and after Shankland twice had efforts cleared off the line Ginnelly scored a dramatic equaliser in the seventh minute of additional time.
The ball broke to the winger in the box and he lashed a fierce drive high into the net, sparking wild celebrations in the stands and on the pitch.
HEARTS:
(4-1-4-1) Gordon 6, Smith 6, Sibbick 6, Rowles 6, Cochrane 6, Kiomourtzoglou 5 (C Smith 67, 3) (Halkett 77), Ginnelly 6, Devlin 6 (Forrest 61, 5), Snodgrass 6, McKay 6, Shankland 6. Unused subs – Stewart, Atkinson, Neilson, Henderson, Pollock
LIVINGSTON:
(4-3-2-1) Konovalov 6, Devlin 6, Obileye 6, Fitzwater 6, Montano 6, Omenonga 6, Holt 6, Se Kelly 6, St Kelly 5 (Pittman 69, 2), Shinnie 6 (Bahamboula 82), Nouble 6. Unused subs – Hamilton, Longridge, Anderson, Goncalves, Boyes, Penrice