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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

Robbie Neilson bemoans Celtic offside calls as seething Hearts boss says 'it's happened again'

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson fumed after a narrow defeat at the hands of Celtic and took aim at the match officials.

The Jambos went two down to Reo Hatate's long-ranger and a neat finish from Giorgos Giakoumakis - but the Greek striker appeared just ahead of John Souttar when Matt O'Riley played the killer ball.

Liam Boyce would halve the deficit with a similarly contentious goal before missing from the penalty spot.

And Neilson, who slammed a close offside call in his side's 1-0 loss at Parkhead in December and decisions in the 1-1 draw at Rangers earlier in the season, was irate.

He told Sky Sports: "I thought both of them were offside, to be honest.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson (SNS Group)

"It's two decisions the linesman's got to get right because there's nobody in the way. You've got to see it.

"It's happened again. We had it at the weekend with three or four decisions.

"But it's not going to take away that we weren't good enough for that 35 minute period in the first half.

"He's made a mistake and I'm pretty sure he'll realise it himself.

"Whether it's at half-time and that might influence the second decision, or he finds out after the game. It happens at speed but there are certain ones you've got to see.

"And I felt that it was a mistake so it's happened."

Neilson was upbeat however after seeing the debut of new Hearts striker Ellis Simms - who was thrown on at half-time and helped turn the direction of the game.

The 21-year-old striker hadn't trained with his new team-mates and Neilson added: "Ellis, I was very impressed with him. I thought he was outstanding.

"He turned up in the dressing room around half an hour before the boys met.

"He's going to give us a different dimension; physique, pace, power. I thought he was very, very good."

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