VAN NO FAN OF HEARTS' SCHEMERS

The Irish defender has accused the Jambos of trying to pull the wool over the eyes of officials with sneaky tactics.

Tempers threatened to boil over at Love Street as the sides played out a 2-2 draw and fussy ref Charlie Richmond showed nine yellow cards, including a double caution for Paul Hartley.

Hearts won the crime count 5-4 and van Zanten was involved in a first-half clash with Neil McCann which saw both players booked.

Asked if he was upset by the Hearts players, the former Celtic kid said: "They are known for it now - diving about and whatever.

"It's very frustrating when referees are conned and they win free-kicks. It's not nice, but it's part of the game now.

"Hearts are not the only team to do it and it should be stamped out."

Hearts have now gone nine matches without a win, while the Buddies' wait is just two games fewer.

But van Zanten reckons a point suited his side better after bottom-six rivals Dunfermline and Dundee United lost.

He also dismissed the pre-match focus on the future of Hearts skipper Steven Pressley as a factor in the match.

Van Zanten said: "All the talk before the match was about them and that's fine, we concentrated on our own job.

"Hearts are still one of the top teams in the league so this was a great result for us and it was definitely a point gained.

"The fact we came back from losing a goal so early in the game says a lot about the strength of character in our dressing room."

Taken from the Daily Record