Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson on penalty claim, 'world class' save and 'quality' Tynecastle

The Steelmen boss was pleased with his side’s display in the 1-1 draw

Stephen Robinson had praise for Zdenek Zlamal. Picture: SNS

Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson lamented the lack of penalty decision and a “world class” save from Zdenek Zlamal in the 1-1 draw with Hearts.

The Steelmen took a first-half lead through Chris Long but were pegged back after the break.

Robinson felt his side should have been awarded a spot kick when they broke up the pitch in the first half with Jermaine Hylton going down under a challenge from Zlamal.

“Everyone that was watching knows it should have been a penalty,” he said. “It was a two-footed tackle at 1-0 and, if we score, then they need to come out and really press us high and go for it. The game would possibly have a different ending with us getting three points.

“If we had the technology other countries have got then perhaps that helps the referees. He thought Jermaine was on his way down, and he probably was, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s been caught fully. It’s a penalty. But sometimes you get these things and sometimes you don’t.”

He added: “In general, we came with a gameplan; we knew Hearts would press us higher up the pitch and go quite direct. We had pace and energy on the counter-attack and, although we sometimes made the wrong decision with the ball, we created a lot of clear-cut chances - Chris Long, Liam Polwarth had a great chance and the keeper [Zlamal] makes a world class save from Jermaine Hylton.”

Robinson was delighted how his young team handled the game at Tynecastle.

“To come to Tynecastle, in terms of budgets and quality,” he said, “and be slightly disappointed not to take all three points shows how far we have come.

“That shows the character of a young, inexperienced side, to come to Tynecastle, with a quality atmosphere, and whether that storm. We came back again and it was us creating all the chances, albeit Naismith has a great chance at the end. We were the ones trying to play our way through and make the chances.”