Hearts' Steven MacLean has his say over Eboue Kouassi incident

Steven MacLean has played down his clash with Eboue Kouassi during the 3-0 Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic at BT Murrayfield.

Willie Collum speaks to Steven MacLean and Eboue Kouassi after the pair clashed. Picture: SNS Group

Kouassi went down in apparent agony holding the front of his shorts and accused MacLean of grabbing him after the pair clashed at a corner during Celtic’s 3-0 Betfred Cup semi-final win.

The Celtic player went off moments later but had been limping prior to the incident.

The incident was missed by officials, but the veteran Hearts striker said: “It was just a laugh, just a coming together. 
“If I went down every time a centre-half niggled me I would be on my backside all day.

“It was just handbags,” he added.