Derek McInnes labels Celtic penalty 'disgusting' - Hearts coach says it feels like 'us against everybody else'

Derek McInnes spoke out on Celtic’s penalty award against Motherwell as the Hearts head coach labelled the decision ‘disgusting’. Following his team’s 3-0 win against Falkirk at Tynecastle Park, McInnes was unhappy with Celtic’s 98th-minute winner at Fir Park and admitted he feels everyone is against his side. Celtic’s resultant 3-2 victory means Hearts travel to Celtic Park for a final-day title showdown one point clear at the top of the Premiership instead of three.

The Edinburgh club enjoyed a comfortable triumph over Falkirk with goals from Frankie Kent, Cammy Devlin and Blair Spittal. Tynecastle’s atmosphere was deafening for much of the night as news of goals from Fir Park filtered through. Celtic’s victory means the title will be decided on a dramatic final day in Glasgow on Saturday. Hearts are the visitors and will be crowned champions for the first time since 1960 if they avoid defeat.

Celtic and Motherwell were tied at 2-2 in the 98th minute when Sam Nicholson was penalised for handball. The former Hearts winger jumped for a clearing header with his arm up and referee John Beaton was called to review the incident on a monitor by VAR. He then awarded a spot-kick, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to win the game for Celtic. McInnes was upset, particularly in light of Hearts being denied what he felt were two clear penalties at Motherwell on Saturday.

“I shouldn't be commenting on another game, but I knew I was going to get asked the question,” said McInnes. “And having seen that, it feels like us against everybody. When you see the two [penalties] that we didn't get at the weekend [at Motherwell] and then you see that, how they can arrive at that situation? Celtic have, I'm sure, more than a touch of fortune at getting that penalty.

“But I'm getting more and more dismayed at some of the decisions that our referees are coming up with. It's such a bad decision. Motherwell must feel totally aggrieved about it. I don't see it. I had to keep looking at it. I thought I was missing something when I was watching it. I had to ask, what am I looking for here? So, it's actually quite disgusting, to be honest. It feels like us against everybody.”

Hearts received praise from McInnes for their performance and for finishing the season unbeaten at home. They are pursuing a first Scottish league title in 66 years. “I'm really pleased with the lads. For us to get 80 points is fantastic. I'm so proud of them,” said the manager. “The fact that we get that final showdown game is perfect for Scottish football. The drama, the excitement, the spotlight on that, it couldn't be built any better. Whoever put the post-split fixtures together, they deserve a lot of credit, because it's got everybody what they wanted in that last game at Celtic Park.

“We are looking forward to it. We'll dust ourselves down tonight. The positive is the result, the clean sheet, Cammy Devlin and Harry Milne getting on the pitch. We'll stay over tonight, we'll get ourselves in tomorrow and we'll recover, and then we'll start to focus on Celtic. So we're kind of waiting for the game.”

Hearts players did a lap of honour after full-time and McInnes admitted the previously raucous atmosphere went slightly flat after news of Celtic’s late success. “Obviously, you would normally just come in once you've done your lap honour, but the players want to go in with their kids and there's that traditional last home game, and they deserve that. It's hard not to feel that. Everybody felt it, the crowd felt a bit flat and it wasn't your normal.

“I'd heard there was a late penalty. I didn't need to ask who for. And it was going to VAR. Obviously it's Celtic who scored. Celtic deserve a lot of credit. I think Martin O’Neill deserves a lot of credit, because they're on such a good run of form in their wins. And us and Celtic have been the best teams over the last wee while. We've been top of the league for a long time, but like any true champion, whether it's boxing or whatever, there's a pride there and you can see that.

“I think what Martin has done is made Celtic more of a team than individuals. I thought that looking at the Old Firm game at the weekend. I thought Celtic looked more of a team and I think that comes from the manager. So sometimes in life you've just got to go and beat the champion again and take what you want to be yours, whether it's boxing or any sort of professional sport. It looks like we're going to have to do that. We don't need to win, but we certainly need to go down there and put in a performance. And it's set up perfectly.”

McInnes had a message to the 752 Hearts fans who will be inside Celtic Park on Saturday. “Sing as loud as you can,” he said. “It'll be hard to hear them, but we know they're there. We know who we're representing. We know how many people will be watching. It's not just about who's there. But actually, getting into that lion's den still being an underdog even though we've been top of the league since September or so. We're still the underdog. For us to be competing with Celtic, with the money they've got and everything they've got at their disposal, it's a huge effort for our team. We look forward to it.”