PENALTY FURY
Hibs boss Nick Montgomery takes ‘another apology’ dig at Edinburgh derby ref Kevin Clancy after Hearts’ VAR controversy
He expected the decision to be over-turned
FUMING NICK MONTGOMERY claimed a bad VAR call cost Hibs a great derby win.
Emiliano Marcondes had Hibs ahead in the 28th minute firing home from close range.
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But Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot for Will Fish’s challenge on Kenneth Vargas as half-time approached.
VAR ref Alan Muir advised the whistler to have another look at it on the monitor.
But having done so Clancy stuck by his guns, awarding the penalty, which Lawrence Shankland scored.
Asked if he thought he’d change his mind a dismayed Monty said: "Everyone was expecting that.
“I don't want to be talking about VAR again but you've asked me the question so I'll answer it.
“The VAR is there to call the referee over so he doesn't make a mistake.
“And when he called him over, I looked it at on the monitor and my opinion is no way it's a penalty - and I don't think anybody else probably thought it was.
“And then, lo and behold, he's got a clear view of it, he can slow it down, he can watch it ... yeah, he gives a penalty.
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“I'm just really disappointed that we don't take three points. It cost us two points.
“Maybe we'll get another apology this week like we did after Aberdeen. Maybe we won't.
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“But at the end of the day, what we won't get back is any points. We have to cop it on the chin.
“We have to hope that, and trust that, moving forward maybe we get some calls that have gone against us this season.
“But again, I don't want to be talking about that. I want to be talking about how well we played tonight.
“We deserved three points - and I don't think anyone can deny that.
“It seems week in, week out at the minute there have been decisions that have been out of our control. “What is in our control is putting the ball in the back of the net.
“We didn't take the opportunities we had. I think they'll be happy with a point.”
Hearts skipper Shankland was pelted by missiles as he waited to take the spot kick.
But he kept his cool to slam the ball past David Marshall for his 26th goal of the season.
And Jambos boss Steven Naismith praised his striker for not letting it get to him.
He said: “The way he acts for the penalty and is calmness to find the net, these are the defining moments in games.
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“But all the stuff getting launched on, it’s just not acceptable
“I think it was everything that was in everyone’s pockets whether it be coins, vapes or whatever.
‘It’s just not good enough, end of.
“If that then gets looked at, what’s going to happen is they are just going to reduce the amount of fans that can go into that stand.
“And that’s going to impact what I think is a good atmosphere, a good derby which has a fierce rivalry.
“It’s just idiots that are going to spoil the party for everybody.”
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Naisy, thought, conceded Hearts may have got a break with the spot kick.
He said: “I felt Kenneth did enough to get enough of the ball for it to be a foul but if it wasn’t given I didn’t think you’d have an argument either."
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