‘Managers sometimes talk rubbish’ - Hearts’ Craig Levein dismisses Gary Caldwell complaint over Uche Ikpeazu

Hearts manager Craig Levein has suggested Partick Thistle counterpart Gary Caldwell was “talking rubbish” with his complaints over Uche Ikpeazu’s penalty award.

Jags boss Caldwell accused the Jambos striker of falling over “like my little girl in the park” after he won a spot-kick following a tangle with Blair Spittal during Tuesday’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final replay.

But Levein - whose side claimed a 2-1 win to set up a semi-final showdown with Inverness - leapt to the defence of his forward as he shrugged off the simulation storm.

And the Tynecastle boss insisted it is no wonder Ikpeazu sometimes finds himself on the deck given some of the heavy challenges he has had to put up with since making his move north from Cambridge last summer.

Craig Levein has laughed off complaints made by Gary Caldwell about Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu. Picture: SNS Group

“Managers sometimes talk rubbish,” said Levein before joking: “I include myself in that.”

He added: “Uche is a significant player for us. He doesn’t half get some rough treatment. Just because he’s a big guy it doesn’t mean it’s OK to have a pop at him.

“To be fair he’s handled it well. I don’t know if I’d have been quite as calm under the provocation he gets.

“He gets fouled a lot. People are trying to to prove they’re stronger than him - but it’s not very easy because he is such an athlete. He’s a strong boy.

“He’s new in the league and referees are trying to work him out. But you shouldn’t be penalised for being stronger than somebody. He quite often does.

“He gets a lot of rough treatment and the conclusion to that is you go to ground. But I don’t think he should be getting penalised for that.”

Meanwhile, Levein confirmed reports Hearts hope to land Craig Halkett on a pre-contract this summer as he admitted he was “interested” in the Livingston defender.