Livi boss in refs rant: It could cost me my job
A livid David Martindale blasted officials and said they could cost him his job following Livingston’s 1-0 defeat to Hearts.
The Lions were utterly dominant against the Jambos in the first half on Sunday as they hit the woodwork twice, while Craig Gordon pulled off some terrific saves.
However, the hosts came away emptyhanded when Liam Boyce calmly fired home four minutes after the break, while a late decision to flag striker Bruce Anderson offside provoked anger from the Livi gaffer.
The former Aberdeen man looked through on goal in the closing moments only to be flagged by assistant referee Frank Connor – whose alleged reaction after the game angered Martindale even more.
He said: “We got done by an offside goal and a harsh second yellow card against Aberdeen. I have now been done with Bruce Anderson clean through on goal and he has been flagged offside.
“Who is it that loses their job? It’s not the officials, it is me. It is not good enough, end of.
“When your striker is going through on goal in the 90th minute and they get it wrong you cannot defend that.”
He added: “When I shook hands with the Hearts bench afterwards they all told me it was onside.
“I genuinely feel hard done by and I’m not one to normally have a go at officials.
“I have told him he is on by two yards and the linesman tells me that it is not his fault we got beat.
“I can see his point, but that decision did play a part in the defeat. If he had said he would look back at it and say sorry if he got it wrong then that would be fine.
“But, don’t be arrogant to me. It is poor because you are not allowed to speak to officials. I don’t like doing this, but we have been done by another decision against us.”
The hosts had the better early chances in a fast-paced opening as Alan Forrest dragged an effort wide before Stephane Omeonga had a pop from 25 yards that was comfortably dealt with by Gordon.
Livi were looking an attacking threat every time they got inside the Hearts half and they almost took the lead on four separate occasions within a 30-second spell midway through the first half.
McMillan, who impressed as a central midfielder, played in Andrew Shinnie who saw his effort saved by Gordon with Craig Sibbald clattering the woodwork from the follow up. The play eventually found its way to Jason Holt on the edge of the box but his rasping strike from 25 yards was tipped onto the post by Gordon.
The Hearts keeper then reacted to deny Forrest from the rebound.
Having been second best for the opening 45 minutes, a repeat after the break was always unlikely from Robbie Neilson’s men and they got themselves in front in the early stages.
McKay’s through ball sent Boyce in behind the Livi backline, with the Northern Irishman calmly slotting home for his 11th goal of the season.
The hosts struggled to bounce back and Max Stryjek did well to prevent his side falling further behind as he tipped an Aaron McEneff strike wide just before the hour mark.
Moments later McKay swept home from eight yards but saw his effort ruled out for offside.
Martindale introduced Anderson, Harrison Panayiotou and Cristian Montano shortly after and the latter almost made an immediate impact.
His fizzing, angled drive from the left went agonisingly beyond the post as Livi searched for an equaliser.
Pushing to get back into the game left the hosts vulnerable at the back with McKay, McEneff and Armand Gnanduillet all squandering chances
to put the game to bed before the controversial late offside call.
Martindale admitted he thought his side should have had something to show for their efforts, commenting: “We did deserve to take something from the game on the balance of play.
“Craig Gordon makes a triple save in the first half and those also changed the game for us. We played well.”