Pundits Christophe Berra and Jack Ross were in agreement Lawrence Shankland's sending off was harsh on Hearts.
The Tynecastle skipper scored his side's second goal in the Scottish Cup derby win over Hibs but he was sent off before Toby Sibbick could make it three for a late challenge on Rocky Bushiri. He was earlier booked for an altercation with Bushiri and ref Don Robertson flashed him a second yellow for leaving too much in on the Easter Road defender.
It didn't prove too costly for Hearts in the end but they will now be without their 20-goal skipper for their last-16 tie with Hamilton Accies. And speaking on BBC Sportscene, pundits from both sides of the Edinburgh divide agreed it was harsh. Berra said: "I don't know what the referee is doing (with the first booking). Have a word with the players. It's nowhere near a yellow card, Bushiri should get a yellow card, maybe, but just have a word. He's so quick to go to his pocket for a yellow card and that puts him in a position further down the line."
"(His second booking) was an honest attempt to play the ball. Yes, it's a free-kick but a yellow card is questionable. I don't think it's anything to do with that situation it's the yellow card before it. Just have a word with them and get on with it."
And former Hibs manager Ross added: "Sometimes referees will issue those cautions if a game needs it from a game management point of view, if the game was getting out of control but it wasn't like that. The derby was competitive, played with intensity but there wasn't much needle in it.
"There was no need to issue the first caution and I think the second is really harsh too. Lawrence makes the challenge believing he can nick the ball and get through on goal. It has consequences as he will miss the next round."
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