TROUBLE VISION

HIBS star Michael Stewart sought a summit with Mike McCurry over the Dean Shiels dismissal that cost his side the Edinburgh derby.

He left with a promise from the whistler to give him a call on his mobile phone and an even higher opinion of one of the top referees in the Scottish game.

Former Manchester United midfielder Stewart reckons McCurry was wrong to red card team-mate Shiels in the Boxing Day firecracker at Tynecastle.

But he admits he was left with no other option after taking the word of linesman Willie Dishington that the Northern Ireland kid had felled Craig Gordon with a punch.

Stewart has leapt to Shiels' defence and claims his lack of sight in his right eye may have been a contributing factor in the second-half flashpoint of a pulsating match which the Jambos won 3-2.

Shiels clashed with Gordon after netting the second-half equaliser from the penalty spot, then was sent off for rushing in and raising his arms in a gesture judged as a punch by Dishington.

Stewart stood immediately behind Shiels as he took the spot-kick and was bitterly disappointed the former Arsenal kid was fingered for an assault he insists was a reflexive and protective gesture.

He sought out McCurry immediately after the game and left with a promise from the ref that he would call him once he had studied the incident on television.

Stewart said: "I like Mike as a ref because you can speak to him and he's a decent guy who will take time to explain the decisions he has made.

"No one will ever say referees don't make mistakes because they're human but Mike is a big enough character to admit when he has got it wrong.

"I was talking to him during the game and he told me he hadn't seen anything but his linesman told him Dean had punched Craig Gordon and he had to go with the word of his assistant.

"I was immediately behind the incident and saw what actually happened but I understand totally Mike's point of view and why he made his decision.

"I returned to our dressing room at the end of the game and after a couple of minutes knocked on the ref's door and he was happy to have a quick chat.

"He told me he had not seen it on TV but that three commentators had all told him there was a punch or a slap involved.

"I said, 'Mike, I'm amazed at that because it's honestly, truthfully, not what I saw.'

"He then asked me for my mobile number and said he'd give me a call once he'd had a look at it again and you can't say much fairer than that. He hasn't called yet but I know he will.

"At a time when referees are being criticised for being unapproachable, I appreciate he is willing to take the time to explain his point of view.

"I've seen it again several times on TV and if the linesman made that call he had to be 100 per cent certain of what he saw.

"He cannot see a collision and assume a punch was thrown - he must physically see that action.

"Again, I appreciate the difficult jobs our officials do but there is no way he could have seen a punch as that is not what happened."

Shiels was distraught in the dressing room as he pleaded his innocence and there is a huge groundswell of sympathy towards a popular player among his team-mates.

Stewart said: "My interpretation is that Dean took a penalty and put it to Craig Gordon's left-hand side, while the keeper dived to the right.

"Dean's first steps were towards the ball in the left-hand corner but, as it is a box net, the ball rolled from that area back to where Craig was lying.

"Dean then pushed off to run towards where the ball was going, all the time with his arms in the air celebrating.

"Craig then came off the ground and found himself positioned directly between Dean and the ball.

"We need to remember - and I'm not being flippant - that Dean only has one eye and at times he doesn't see certain people in certain areas.

"I'm not saying that's what happened but it's a possibility, and when someone appears in front of you your initial reaction is to put your hands up for protection.

"Dean did not punch or slap Craig - he pushed him on the chest and right shoulder area and not with any malice.

"It looks bad because of the speed at which he was running but, logically, why would he want to charge in and barge the keeper when he had just netted to make it 2-2?

"I understand the argument about lifting his arms and therefore he should be sent off but it did not happen in the middle of the park. He was running to get to the ball, not an opposition player. It was never, ever a sending-off."

Stewart is backing an appeal to overturn Shiels' first red card which comes at a time when he is bidding to re-establish his place in the side.

In the end, a Saulius Mikoliunas wonder strike handed Hearts their first derby win of the season and Stewart was left to lament might-have-beens.

He said: "I never thought we were under the cosh at any stage and even when we went 2-0 down I didn't panic and think we were out of it.

"I thought we shaded the first half and were by far the better side in the second and to pull it back to 2-2 was fantastic.

"We'll never know if we would have gone on to win with 11 men but I'd like to think the worst we would have come away with was a draw.

"Dean is extremely disappointed. He has been doing really well recently and does not want to drop out of the side and miss any games.

"The red card was harsh. That was my opinion as I stood behind him after the penalty and my opinion is even stronger now I've seen it several times on TV."

Taken from the Daily Record