Hearts boss slams 'wrong' penalty call as defensive crisis deepens
Hearts manager Derek McInnes has criticised referee Steven McLean for denying his side a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Motherwell. The decision came after a controversial incident involving Alexandros Kyziridis in the second half. Meanwhile, the Edinburgh club now faces a defensive crisis after two key players suffered serious injuries. The flashpoint occurred on 66 minutes when Kyziridis went down in the area under pressure from Tawanda Maswanhise. TV replays showed the Motherwell defender standing on the Hearts player’s foot. VAR Greg Aitken called referee McLean to the pitchside monitor, but no penalty was given.
McInnes later described the decision as a 'huge moment' and a 'pivotal moment' in the game. Kyziridis also insisted the referee had made the wrong call. The Hearts boss accused McLean of denying his team a clear penalty.
The draw leaves Hearts four points clear of Celtic at the top of the table, though they have played one more game. However, McInnes now faces a defensive shortage after Marc Leonard and Craig Halkett both suffered achilles tendon injuries. Both players are expected to be sidelined for a significant period. With no quick return in sight, McInnes admitted his side will now have to win the league without them.
Hearts’ next challenge comes on Wednesday when they travel to Falkirk. The penalty controversy adds frustration to Hearts’ injury woes, with Leonard and Halkett facing long spells out. The Edinburgh side remains top of the league but must now cope without two first-team defenders. Their focus shifts to the midweek clash against Falkirk as they look to maintain their lead.
