HEARTS manager Craig Levein admits his side’s abject performance against Raith Rovers angered him more than referee Don Robertson’s decision to chalk off Christophe Berra’s last-minute goal.
The Tynecastle outfit came from behind to claim a share of the spoils in this Betfred Group C clash before earning a bonus point with a shoot-out victory.
Kevin Nisbet fired League One Rovers into a shock lead after 51 minutes as Hearts were punished for a lacklustre start to the second period.
Michael Smith netted a stunning strike from 25 yards before Berra thought he had won the tie in the 90th minute.
Referee Robertson blew for a foul on Robbie Thomson from Bobby Burns’ corner even though footage shows that the goalkeeper was impeded by team-mate Ross Matthews.
With the bonus point being decided by a shootout, John Souttar scored the decisive spot kick to move Hearts on to five points in third place, although they could face a points deduction at Monday’s SPFL hearing after the ineligible Andy Irving played in last Wednesday’s win at Cove Rangers.
Levein admits he made his players aware on no uncertain terms that he was not impressed by their display at New Bayview.
He said: “I don’t know what Don saw for the disallowed goal, their own defender fouled the keeper and we got penalised.
“But I was angry with our performance for parts of the first half and the start of the second.
“It irritates me I had to bring three young kids [Aidan Keena, Callumn Morrison and Anthony McDonald] on to improve our performance, which should never happen, and that’s what disappoints me.
“It’s pre-season and it takes time to get up to speed. But there was not enough of them digging in.
“When you are away to a lower-level club, if you put in the same amount of effort, then 99 times out of 100 we win this match.
“It’s my job to tell them it’s not good enough. Okay, the pitch was dry, but that’s not the whole excuse. We didn’t show enough intent, run in behind, hold the ball up or switch the play enough.”
Levein, whose side trails leaders Inverness Caley Thistle and Cowdenbeath by one point ahead of Tuesday’s visit of the Blue Brazil, said: “A bonus point is better than nothing but I felt before the match if we won it would still be in our hands, depending on what happens on Monday."
Hearts actually made an encouraging start against Rovers and created a series of half chances.
Olly Lee had a low drive saved by Thomson before seeing another deflected effort spin wide.
Kyle Lafferty’s free-kick also just missed the post after the ball glanced off the wall.
But an organised defensive showing from the Raith rearguard induced frustration among Hearts and ultimately led to a disjointed performance that the capacity away support did not appreciate.
Rovers defender Jamie Watson should have put Rovers ahead in the 37th minute when he headed wide from close range, but Nisbet found the target from six yards after the restart.
The ball broke to the forward from Grant Gillespie’s attempted shot and he calmly beat Zdenek Zlamal.
The introduction of the Hearts substitutes added much needed energy to the away side’s performance and Smith levelled with a left-footed drive from 25 yards that flew into the top corner.
After being frustrated by the denial of Berra’s header, Hearts then won 4-2 from 12 yards as Souttar kept his cool to settle the tie following misses from Raith players Kyle Benedictus and Ross Matthews.
Rovers manager Barry Smith said: “They took a bit of stick last week from myself and others following the Cowdenbeath defeat but they showed what a good professional team they are when they remain focused and are positive."
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