Dundee boss James McPake is not happy with Hearts manager Robbie Neilson after Celtic loanee Leigh Griffiths was the subject of abuse at Tynecastle yesterday.
The Daily Record reports that Griffiths was on the receiving end of boos and vile chants by the crowd in Edinburgh throughout the 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw.
And McPake feels that Neilson fuelled the fire in the build-up to the fixture, unnecessarily targeting Griffiths.
As quoted by The Record, the Dens Park manager said: “I don’t think it helps when opposition managers are coming out and saying it’s going to be a white hot atmosphere.
“We already know there’s going to be 20,000 fans in here. Leigh is already a target, we know that. He will go to the fact there was a voting scandal. But we have played them three times since and he was the manager of Dundee United at the time of the vote.
“I don’t think there was a need to say what he did. Maybe he should concentrate on his own team. Yeah he’s got to try and get his own fans up for it but you are at Tynecastle with the chance to go top ad I don’t think certain comments help the situation with Leigh. It’s stoking the fire.
“I didn’t like it but I can only concentrate on Dundee and the wellbeing of our players.”
Griffiths has certainly been the subject of controversy over the last 12 months. Indeed a section of the Celtic support showed their displeasure when he took the field at Celtic Park earlier this season, with audible booing occurring.
However, vile chants targeted at individuals cross the line, with that kind of point-scoring never welcome in football.
McPake has a duty of care for his players so is always going to stick up for Griffiths. If he feels Neilson has been out of order, then perhaps the Hearts manager should reflect on the situation and consider whether he truly did help add an unneeded nasty edge to yesterday’s fixture.
Griffiths will be happy with his team’s point regardless, as the Dees look to push clear from relegation.
In other news, John McGinn shows appreciation for class Ange footage from Celtic vs St Johnstone.
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