Robbie Neilson believes referee will change mind on Hearts penalty claim against Hibs

Angry at refereeing decisions that denied his team a first-half penalty and a possible extra-man advantage which could have helped them extend their lead in third place, Hearts manager Robbie Neilson said the most important thing is that while the match ended with honours even, his men still sit 12 points ahead of their Leith rivals in the league table.

The Hearts boss was booked when he took exception to Lewis Stevenson’s penalty box shoulder barge on Ellis Simms, which undoubtedly would have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch, and he was further angered when a handball late in the game also went unpunished.

Neilson believes the referee will change his mind over the first-half claim when he sees it again.

“I spoke to the ref about the [first half] penalty and he gave me his excuse for not giving it. He’s not seen it yet but when he does I think he will agree with me.

“It could also have been a red card. In my opinion he’s made a big mistake and I think he will agree with me when he sees it.

“In real time, I thought 100 per cent it was a penalty. For some reason he doesn’t see it, though. But I think I’ve said enough previously about these certain ones, the referee that sent me off at Ibrox. It could have happened again today if I hadn’t kept my mouth shut.

“There was a handball as well. The referee saw it and said in his opinion the arm was close enough to the body not to give it. But I disagree.

“But we are sitting 12 points clear of Hibs and that’s the most important thing for us. We are looking up the way. We want to try and get close to Rangers and Celtic.”

Aside from the penalty shouts, Hearts had opportunities but Simms was denied on three separate occasions. Although Hibs could have sealed it late on. But