Fans drunk on drama as intoxicating title race takes another twist

"When Alexandros Kyziridis went down in an incident with Tawanda Maswanhise in the 68th minute, it looked like Hearts were getting an opportunity to make it 2-1 from the spot. Referee Steven McLean said no. VAR Greg Aitken said 'hold your horses'. Aitken got McLean over to the screen but McLean was unmoved. "He [Kyziridis] was impeded," Hearts manager said Derek McInnes later. "It's such a poor decision. The main talking point. I don't understand why that's not a penalty.""

"Wonder of wonders, Jens Berthel Askou disagreed: "Not enough in it," said the Motherwell manager. "Some sort of contact, but minimal. Kyziridis makes it look like there's more contact than there is." People see what they want to see, but this season will have an endgame to conjure with. A historically-brilliant campaign will surely go to the wire now. Hearts were unbeaten and unbowed, but damaged. Two points dropped and two players down."

"Marc Leonard and the wonderful lynchpin at the back, Craig Halkett, were invalided out of the action. And out of the last two games of the season. At the end, the players went to their fans to thank them for their support, which was unceasingly loud and passionate even on full-time, when the draw was confirmed. Their throats would have been in need of a soothing nectar last night. Their minds? Scrambled. They will try to convince themselves that a point at Fir Park is not a bad thing, especially since Celtic have to come here on Wednesday."

Hearts played a frantic match at Motherwell with every moment feeling high-stakes. Alexandros Kyziridis went down in the 68th minute after contact with Tawanda Maswanhise, and Hearts believed a penalty could make it 2-1. Referee Steven McLean refused the spot-kick, and VAR Greg Aitken reviewed the incident but did not change the decision. Hearts manager Derek McInnes said Kyziridis was impeded and that the decision was poor. Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou said the contact was minimal and not enough for a penalty. Hearts finished unbeaten but damaged, dropping two points and losing Marc Leonard and Craig Halkett to injury, ruling them out of the season’s final games. Players thanked fans despite confusion and scrambled minds, with attention turning to Celtic’s upcoming visit.

Read at www.bbc.com