RANTING Robbie Neilson went off his head after Hearts lost 3-1 to Celtic at Parkhead last night.
Ludicrously, the Tynecastle boss claimed one of his team would have to be DECAPITATED for a Hoops player to get a red card.
Rabid Robbie launched a verbal assault at referee Alan Muir following a challenge from left-back Alexandro Bernabei on Nathaniel Atkinson that escaped punishment in the second-half.
VAR assistant Nick Walsh also took no action and the Gorgie gaffer insisted it was a game-changing moment as the champions maintained their nine-point advantage over their nearest challengers who beat Hibs 4-1 at Easter Road.
Ange Postecoglou’s men had gone a goal behind in only six minutes when they were punished in a swift breakaway when Josh Ginnelly headed in from a marginally onside position.
However, Daizen Maeda equalised and second-half efforts from Kyogo Furuhashi and substitute Sead Haksabanovic made certain of victory on their manager’s 100th game in charge.
Neilson, in a report in the Scottish Sun, fumed: “For 80 minutes, we were outstanding. The players put Celtic under a massive amount of pressure and you could see the crowd starting to turn.
“Usually when you come to Parkhead, you need decapitation before they get a red card against them.
“It wasn’t to be. It was nearly a leg off.
“My opinion he’s got to at least book him. But you’ve got to think VAR’s got to go: ‘Alan go and have a look at that, see what you think’.”
The teams meet again in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon with Kevin Clancy the man with the whistle with Willie Collum in charge of technology.
THREE CHEERS FOR ANGE’S 100th CELEBRATIONS
