Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: You need a decapitation to get a red card at Celtic Park

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson joked that his side would need to have a player “decapitated” to get a decision their way against Celtic.

Neilson saw his side take the lead through Josh Ginelly early in the game before Celtic hit back with goals from Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and Sead Haksabanovic sealed a 3-1 win for the hosts.

The manager was pleased with his side’s efforts but bemused by the decision making over one first half flashpoint.

A challenge from Celtic’s Alexandro Bernabei on Nathaniel Atkinson saw the Hearts player receive lengthy treatment, during which time VAR official Nick Walsh reviewed the incident. He chose not to invite referee Alan Muir to re-examine it on the pitchside monitor, to Neilson’s disbelief.

“To be honest I thought it was a shambles, the whole thing,” the Hearts boss said. “First time I have ever seen no yellow card but it goes to a VAR for serious foul play.

“I’m sure Alan will look at it and firstly be disappointed with his own decision but secondly that he wasn’t asked to go and look at the VAR screen because I think, if he goes and sees it, it’s maybe a different outcome.

“But usually you come to Parkhead and need a decapitation before you get a red card against them. It wasn’t to be. It was nearly a leg off but if the head came off we might have got it.”

Reflection on the rest of the match, Neilson was pleased to see his team take a positive approach and felt they gave a good display despite the scoreline.

“For periods of the game I thought we played really well. Our shape was great, we pressed really well but the most pleasing thing was we passed the ball very well.

“There were passages of play where we popped the ball through them and very rarely do you see that at Parkhead.”