HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson insists last weekend’s flashpoint involving Rangers midfielder Juninho Bacuna and Stephen Kingsley was a case of the officials being guilty of the ‘Glasgow long blink’.

Neilson was sent from the technical area by referee Don Robertson after taking his protests too far when claiming Bacuna, who was cautioned, should have been dismissed for appearing to grab Stephen Kingsley by the throat during the 1-1 top of the Premiership draw.

Neilson has subsequently been hit with a three-match dugout ban after his decision to accept a Scottish FA one-game suspension triggered an outstanding two-game penalty that was hanging over from last season.

The 41-year-old has vowed that he will not rein in his passion on the sidelines and has instead doubled down on what he believes was the injustice of Robertson and his colleagues failing to take appropriate action against Bacuna.

Neilson, whose side welcome Dundee tomorrow, said: “We've been all been there before. It's the old Glasgow long blink, where you don't see things, so we'll just need to move on. 

“It's done now, we're still not very happy about it but we have to accept it.”

Asked if he would try to be more calm in future, Neilson said: “No, I don't think so. 

“I don't think I showed too much passion on Saturday. I was just letting the referee know my thoughts on it, there wasn't any swearing.

“But I think you have to show it means a lot to you and show we won't go to places and just accept decisions, we need to fight for them as well.”

Neilson insists there was no point in fighting the one-game ban offered by the Scottish FA, despite last season’s suspended ban hanging over him.

Neilson was also found guilty of a misconduct charge after confronting ref John Beaton in the aftermath of his side’s defeat to Raith Rovers in January.

He added: “I got offered a ban last time, I didn't accept it and I ended up getting a two game ban plus two suspended so if you get offered one you know there's the potential to get another two plus two.

"The way it works on the panel, you're guilty until you prove your innocence, so there's not really much point in going into it.

Sometimes you just need to accept these things as disappointing as it is.”

Neilson will now have to watch on from the stands in the weekend’s home game against Dundee and the forthcoming away clashes at St Johnstone and Aberdeen.

However, the former Hearts defender is adamant that his dugout ban will not derail his team’s charge at the top of the table.

He added: “Tynecastle's not too bad. 

“It's the away games that are a wee bit different, depending on where they put you, we just need to deal with it, there's not much we can do, it's just up to the players, as it always is, to go out and perform and they've managed to do that this season.

“These tests will come throughout the season. When you're up the top end of the league, you'll get these suspensions, red cards, penalties, we just need to deal with it.

"The players just want to win football matches. They're fighting for each other and it's important they continue to do that, because no matter what team you are, throughout the season there's going to be hurdles to get over and you do that as a group. 

"The players managed to do it last Saturday and I'm sure they'll do it again this Saturday.”

Neilson, meanwhile, insists Hearts will continue to use their controversial relegation from the Premiership last year as motivation when they face Dundee.

The Dark Blues’ decisive vote condemned Hearts to Championship football after the league was cut short due to Covid-19.

Neilson added: “We spoke about it last season and we will touch on it again. 

"I think it’s very important that there's that bit of edge about the game and it’s good to have that within the game as long as it doesn’t boil over.

“The players will be motivated and ready to go. And I’m sure the 20,000 Hearts fans will have the place rocking.

“I think in football these things can linger on for a long long time. It's part of life, nothing goes away now.”