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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
Ruaraidh Britton

Alex Cochrane Hearts red card vs Celtic put under Ref Watch microscope by Dermot Gallagher

Dermot Gallagher has had his say on Alex Cochrane's red card in Hearts' defeat to Celtic as the former whistler analysed the weekend's action on Ref Watch.

Kyogo and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the goals to confirm the Scottish Premiership title is heading for Parkhead, but interim Jambos boss Steven Naismith was left fuming with referee Nick Walsh and VAR official Willie Collum after the defender was initially given a yellow card for a last man challenge on Daizen Maeda.

An intervention from Collum saw the punishment upgraded to a red card, leaving Hearts down to 10 men for the second-half, with Celtic turning the screw to kickstart their title party on Sunday afternoon.

READ MORE: Hearts 0 Celtic 2 as Barrie McKay impresses amid Alex Cochrane VAR drama - three things we learned

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Andy Walker was quick to slam the decision on commentary, and Michael Stewart also labelled the sending off as 'utter garbage.'

Now, Gallagher - a former EPL whistler - has had his say when asked about the incident during his Ref Watch analysis on Sky Sports, as he felt the red card was the right decision by the officials at Tynecastle.

He said: "One of my friends is a Hearts fan and he sent me a message last night saying he didn't think it was right.

"But I actually think it is a red card. The reason I think it is a red card is if you go sideways, if you watch here. Right stop there. At that point the defender is not going to catch the player.

"[Alex] Cochrane brings him down. He is gong to head towards goal and the keeper can't get to the ball. The law says 'will he get a shot away?'.

"I think for the referee I understand in normal play why it is a yellow card. He can't see that. When he goes to the screen and sees what I have just seen there. I just think it is obvious it is going to be a red card."

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- Hearts to face St Johnstone at Tynecastle in bounce game as Steven Naismith details training plan

- Lawrence Shankland scoops Hearts awards as Zander Clark recognised at Player of the Year bash

- Steven Naismith praises Hearts' bravery as Jambos bounce back from derby day misery vs Ross County

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