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Strachan accuses referee of failing to keep promise


DARRYL BROADFOOT August 07 2006
GORDON Strachan last night accused the referee,
Stuart Dougal, of going back on his word by refusing to explain the reason for the Celtic manager's sending-off during Hearts' 2-1 win at Tynecastle.

Strachan and the Hearts assistant, John McGlynn, were ordered to the stand by the
referee for their part in a touchline spat that also involved Strachan's No.2, Garry Pendrey.
Strachan sought clarification from the match official at half-time but despite assurances of an explanation after the game, allegedly made within earshot of Setanta staff, he claimed Dougal then refused his request.

"I got good back-up on the way I asked him in a composed and respectful manner," he said. "The people from Setanta were there and they heard him say, 'Yes, I will explain it' and then, 'No, I won't explain it'.
"I was upset when [Ibrahim] Tall was injured and the referee played on, then another Hearts player [Julien Brellier] got injured and we had to kick the ball out. I asked their dugout if they wanted to play on when players were injured or stop the game."

The incident occurred after Brellier went to ground complaining of a head knock. Hearts continued to play until the referee intervened with Celtic in possession. Strachan was simmering from a similar instance from which Tall sustained knee ligament damage.
McGlynn reacted to Strachan's protestations and breached the visiting technical area, only to be met by an equally wound-up Pendrey. The pair had to be separated by Neil Lennon and despite the captain seeing the funny side, Dougal did not take the incident in such good humour after consultation with his fourth official, Calum Murray.

"It was a bit strange considering I stayed in my technical area," said Strachan. "I was watching this fracas. I was sent off once at Southampton, but only because I knew the rules better then the fourth
official. It was ironic that last week I should complain about the fourth official."
Valdas Ivanauskas, the Hearts manager, took a different view. He was sent to the stand at Parkhead last season and, for once, kept his composure amid the mayhem. "I think John was right, he did well," he said. "I have been suspended before, so I have to be careful now."
Strachan defended his decision not to restore Lennon to the starting line-up after his suspension for last week's 4-1 victory against Kilmarnock. The captain came on as a substitute only to assist in Hearts' winner with a slack pass-back.

Strachan refused to compound Lennon's misery and attributed defeat to complacency in possession. "He didn't play last week so how could I have dropped him?" said Strachan. "It was a huge decision but it is my job to make decisions and other people can talk about it. I have to deal with it.

"We handled stuff we thought was going to be a problem, like pressure passes. We knew it would be hard but we could have passed better, that was our downfall. If you are going to keep playing those, you are going to be punished. I respect the fact that Hearts won."
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