Steven Naismith’s Rangers rant blown apart as two ex refs claim outburst was just him trying to save Hearts job

Steven Naismith has been told his officials outburst after the last-gasp defeat to Rangers at Ibrox is a clear sign of the pressure he’s under at Hearts and that John Beaton and the VAR got their penalty call RIGHT.

The Jambos boss was seething when the Light Blues were awarded a late spot kick for a tug of Connor Goldson’s shirt by Peter Haring with James Tavernier converting a penalty before Danilo headed home an injury time winner, coming after Lawrence Shankland had given Hearts an early lead. Naismith’s gripe was that there had been a foul before the Goldson shirt pull with John Lundstram alleged to have been blocking his rival but the shirt pull came first and former top referee Des Roache said: “Stevie Naismith is trying to cling on to his job so that just shows the pressure he’s under.

“Hearts are on an horrendous run but he’s clutching at straws. To try to blame the officials is completely wrong. The team got it right and in the end, John Beaton got it right. Pressure seems to be growing on Stevie Naismith. It’s clear Hearts need results fast.”

Fellow former official Steve Conroy also told www.sharemarketcap.com: “There seems to be a clamour for change among Hearts fans so he’s trying desperately to hold on to his job. I have absolutely no idea what he’s moaning about and what he thinks he has seen. Both are clear penalties. We have criticised Mr Cantwell often enough and also Mr Goldson – the best goalkeeper in Scotland – but both players were fouled.

“Peter Haring quite clearly had a hold of Connor Goldson’s jersey before there was any block from John Lundstram and as soon as that begins then it’s a foul. So then the collision with Lundstram is inconsequential."

Naismith also claimed that Beaton played