Sent-off Inverness boss Neil McCann opens up on touchline tirade at Hearts boss Robbie Neilson

Inverness manager Neil McCann admitted that he “lost his cool” after a touchline spat with Robbie Neilson resulted in him being sent to the stand during the Highlanders’ 3-0 defeat by Hearts.
Neil McCann was sent off at Tynecastle.Neil McCann was sent off at Tynecastle.
Neil McCann was sent off at Tynecastle.

McCann aimed a volley of abuse at his Tynecastle counterpart around the hour-mark after a bad tackle by Caley midfielder Sean Welsh on Liam Boyce. Referee Bobby Madden sent the Caley boss to the stand and the verbals continued at full time, with McCann continuing to take umbrage with Neilson.

However, McCann lamented his own conduct after the match and admitted his emotions got the better of him, with the defeat ending Inverness’ hopes of making the end-of-season Championship promotion play-offs after Dunfermline won 4-3 at home to Arbroath.

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"I lost my cool,” said McCann. “That's as much as I'll say about it. I let the side down, receiving a red card, what can I say?

"I don't particularly take defeat well. It's just pure frustration. I came in here to do a job for the club and I take it personally. It's not just on the team, it's on me as well – I'm part of that. I probably let my emotions get too much. Maybe I hadn't calmed down since the half-time talk. I'll look at that. Every day is a school day. My conduct's been pretty good up until that point so maybe it just built up on me. That's not good enough regardless. I lost my cool and got sent off.”

McCann had guided Inverness up the table after he took caretaker charge from John Robertson, who was given compassionate leave by the club. The stand-in manager revealed his pride yet disappointment at falling just short of his target.

"I'm really proud of how the players have come together,” McCann continued. “They've been put through the wringer, losing their manager, losing their assistant. I've got a huge amount of admiration for them as a group and I think they've been outstanding.

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"I feel really sorry for them and disappointed for them, because they've been so good. A wee while ago, we were sitting second bottom and we were struggling, but we steeled up, played some really football, were really solid. We just didn't perform today after the first couple of minutes.”

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