Robbie Neilson: We planned for Willie Collum red

[ian1964 10,563]

HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson has hit out at referee Willie Collum, claiming the official cost his men their place at the top of the Premiership table.

 

He also said that a red card had been almost inevitable once he learned who would be refereeing and revealed he had tried to limit any damage by training with ten men in the build up.

 

The decision to send Callum Paterson off swung the game in Hamilton’s favour and allowed Martin Canning’s men to battle back from 2-1 down to win the game 3-2 with two late goals.

 

“We looked at the stats during the week. We get a referee and we look at what the stats are and what way they referee the game. All of them referee differently. But with this game, with the officials we were getting, we knew there was a high probability of a man being sent off and it’s happened again.

 

“We tried to train with ten men, but we didn’t get our game plan going because of when it happened, who came off. It’s happened now and I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

 

Having received no satisfaction from a post-match meeting with Collum, Neilson intended to call the Scottish Football Association’s referee supremo John Fleming to air his grievances.

 

“I like John. I speak to him regularly when we have certain officials. I am sure he will be desperate to speak to me! But, look, it is done now. We need to take it on the chin. The next time we get the referee we had today we will need to do the same training again and hope that we can keep to our game plan when we go down to ten men.”

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/robbie-neilson-we-planned-for-willie-collum-red-1-3872723

[Whosthedado 1,562]

Lol I always said it would be interesting to see Neilson under presure. First hint of things not going their way and he comes out with this! A wee fine coming his way for this though i would think.

 

P.S Collum is a shit ref though

[ian1964 10,563]

Lol I always said it would be interesting to see Neilson under presure. First hint of things not going their way and he comes out with this! A wee fine coming his way for this though i would think.

 

P.S Collum is a shit ref though

 

 

From August last year.....................

 

 

Sunday’s crunch Ibrox clash will be refereed by Craig Thomson.

 

And Neilson revealed that Hearts have been taking part in training games at their Riccarton base involving 10 men versus 11, how to cope with playing at a disadvantage and what formation to adopt if the situation arises this weekend.

 

Neilson said: “We’ve been working on 10 versus 11 because we know what it’s like when we go there – the atmosphere, with referees – and you never know what’s going to happen.

 

“It’s important we work on all these kinds of things and prepare for different scenarios that could happen in a game.

 

“It will be a big game. The place will be packed to the rafters.

 

“This will be one of the most competitive games Rangers have had in the last couple of years, certainly in the league.

 

“We must prepare for it properly and cover all the bases for things that could happen.

 

“That’s got to be one of them. There are different things we will look to do.

 

“We changed the shape during the friendly against St Johnstone on Sunday just to look at some different things and start gearing up for the matches coming up. It’s very important the boys are versatile, that they know different formations and what’s expected of them in different scenarios during the game.”

[RANGERRAB 3,385]

FWIW I always dread a Rangers game refereed by Craig Thomson.