Source: Team_Talk
Hughes happy with brave officials
The relegation-threatened Bairns won an incident-packed game to reach the quarter-finals following their first victory at the ground since April 1995.[LNB]Steve Lovell's 59th-minute strike proved the difference in a frenetic second half, despite the striker appearing to be just offside as he nodded past Janos Balogh.[LNB]Moments later, referee Dougie McDonald awarded Hearts a penalty for Dean Holden's challenge on Andrew Driver, before changing his mind and giving a corner on the advice of far-side assistant Chris Young.[LNB]Further drama followed when Marius Zaliukas was handed a straight red card - his third of the season and Hearts' eighth - for appearing to kick and punch substitute Carl Finnigan following a tussle.[LNB]Both teams were then left with 10 men when Falkirk's Scott Arfield picked up a second yellow in injury-time.[LNB]The visitors also had a case for a second goal after Michael Higdon appeared onside when he netted, shortly after the winning goal.[LNB]Hughes was simply relieved to have come out on top to end a barren run at Tynecastle, a week after ending a winless drought against Aberdeen in the SPL.[LNB]He said: "I think Dougie gave the penalty and it was the linesman who said it was a perfectly good tackle.[LNB]"I've seen it on television and it was a great tackle by Dean Holden. I'm delighted something like that has gone our way.[LNB]"Last year, it worked the other way against us against Hibs. I think Holden again made the tackle, the referee said it was a fair tackle and it was the linesman who gave the penalty.[LNB]"I'm delighted the linesman was strong enough to call it and TV shows he got it perfectly right. They are a three-man team, aren't they? They took stock. We didn't want punished like that, so it was good.[LNB]"We're not getting carried away. It's a great result to get into the latter stages of the cup, but if anybody said swap it for three or six points, I'll bite your hand off. It was a good day for us, though."[LNB]Hughes had special words of praise for impressive goalkeeper Dani Mallo after the Spaniard, recently signed from Sporting Braga, pulled off a string of saves despite not training for most of the week.[LNB]Steven Pressley and Neil McCann, back at their former club, were also singled out.[LNB]Hughes said: "Dani looks like he is going to be a good find and I'm pleased for him.[LNB]"I'm also delighted for the two ex-Hearts boys, big Elvis and Neil coming back to their old stomping ground and getting the win. It gives them the bragging rights.[LNB]"It was a good cup tie, hard-fought, a typical Scottish game with plenty incidents in it and I'm just glad that we came out on top.[LNB]"I'm honest enough to say Hearts were possibly the best team in the first half and had the best chances of the game.[LNB]"But I think the introduction of Finnigan swayed the game our way. I'm delighted for the boys, the spirit amongst them is fantastic and I'm glad we got the rewards."[LNB]Hearts fans directed their anger at the officials at the end, with manager Csaba Laszlo downbeat and subdued.[LNB]Laszlo played Eggert Jonsson in a makeshift striking role after Christian Nade (knee) failed a late fitness test and his team's failure to convert numerous chances ultimately proved their downfall.[LNB]Of the decisions, the Romanian-born Hungarian chose his words carefully and was clearly choosing to keep some thoughts private.[LNB]But his main gripe was with the goal, which he definitely felt was offside.[LNB]Laszlo said: "In this interview, I will tell you what I think but I don't want to lose my licence.[LNB]"For me, if it wasn't any clearer, you wouldn't have offsides.[LNB]"I've seen the pictures and it's clear we don't have offsides anymore.[LNB]"It wasn't just the penalty decision, but the goal. I never spoke to the referee after the game."[LNB]Laszlo also took a swipe at Falkirk's style and added: "The key point was definitely the bad, unlucky decision which led to the goal.[LNB]"Up until that, they didn't have any chances from the game. No shots on goal, they just tried to destroy the game."[LNB][LNB]
