Source: Team_Talk
Sergio refuses to attack Black
Hearts boss Paulo Sergio refused to blame Ian Black for the midfielder's dismissal in the 1-0 defeat at Motherwell on Sunday.[LNB] Four minutes after the interval the hot-headed Jambos player was shown a straight red card by referee Stevie O'Reilly for what looked like a reckless challenge on Well midfielder Keith Lasley.[LNB]The Steelmen capitalised on their advantage on the hour mark when striker Jamie Murphy converted a pass from Nicky Law before Lasley, already booked, was sent off in the 86th minute after picking up his second yellow card for a foul on Hearts substitute Arvydas Novikovas.[LNB]Sergio hinted that he thought O'Reilly had made the wrong decision as he backed his player.[LNB]"I don't want to speak about the referees, we were advised that we shouldn't," said the Portuguese coach.[LNB]"But I think he was fighting for the ball. Maybe he touched the opponent but he is an honest player.[LNB]"I like Black's style but he is not just an aggressive player, he is a good player, he is intelligent and I am sure he will help Hearts in the future.[LNB]"I didn't think we should have lost but the second half was hard for us."[LNB]After watching his side leapfrog Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League with seven points from three games, Fir Park boss Stuart McCall also took a lenient view of Black's misdemeanour.[LNB]"I have just seen it again (on television) and I think both players are committed and they both went in for the ball," he said.[LNB]"I don't think there is any malice at all from Black, I think Keith will say the same.[LNB]"But he (Black) has got there a split second late and it can look reckless and probably the referee sent him off for a reckless challenge.[LNB]"If he had got there a split second later it would have been a good 50-50 but in these conditions if you go to ground in a sliding challenge you have to get the ball."[LNB]However, McCall was frustrated by Lasley's dismissal near the end.[LNB]He said: "Lasley was really disappointed about the second one (yellow).[LNB]"At the end of the day, fouls are not always yellow cards.[LNB]"It is a free-kick. I can understand why the referee sent him off but sometimes we have to realise that every free kick isn't a yellow card."[LNB]The former Rangers and Scotland midfielder played down his side's lofty position, adding: "It is a good start. It is obviously what we are looking for but it's nothing more than that.[LNB]"We have to keep building on it and we look to the next game against St Mirren and nothing more.[LNB]"Hearts had the better chances in the first half which came from us giving the ball away sloppily.[LNB]"Obviously the sending off had an impact on the game but it was a little bit nervy at the end.[LNB]"If we could have got the second goal we would have killed them off but I was delighted with the three points and the clean sheet."
