'No commitment': Ex-Hearts hero slams Mihai Popescu after Hearts lose at Dunfermline

Former Hearts winger Neil McCann has criticised defender Mihai Popescu for a “ridiculous” piece of defending which led to Dunfermline’s opener on Friday night.

Dunfermline's Dom Thomas scores to make it 1-0. Picture: SNS

The hosts won the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Dom Thomas and Euan Murray. Stephen Kingsley netted a late header for the visitors but it wasn’t enough for Robbie Neilson’s men, who failed to win for the first time this season.

Thomas’ opener was scored via a deflection off the Romanian defender, but McCann was less than impressed with the way he shaped his body to try and avoid a handball.

He said on Sportscene’s live coverage: “Watch Popescu there. It’s ridiculous.

“When Robbie sees that back, a defender himself. He was known as ‘The Tackle’ because he’d put his body on the line. If I’m looking at Popescu there I’m thinking I need more from you.

“It’s half-hearted, there’s no commitment in it and then they succumb to that goal because of it. That gave Dunfermline even more belief.”

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