Jim Goodwin insists Lewis Ferguson is no diver after Hearts boss Robbie Neilson accused the Aberdeen midfielder of "blatant cheating".
The Dons star won, and then missed, a penalty at Tynecastle as his side went down 2-0 on a sobering night for the Pittodrie side.
John Souttar and Stephen Kingsley found the net as Hearts strengthened their grip on third and Aberdeen slipped to 10th in the Premiership.
But despite a convincing victory, Neilson was furious with Ferguson as he insisted the 22-year-old went down far too easily.
Goodwin, however, insists the Jambos gaffer ought to focus on his own team.
The Dons boss said: “I think it is a wee bit disappointing if Robbie is talking along those lines.
“He's won the game fair and square tonight. They were the better team.
“I have a lot of time for Robbie, we speak quite often, but if he has made those comments then I am quite disappointed because Lewis is not a diver.
“There was contact, he went over and Steven McLean thought it warranted a penalty and so be it.
“I think Robbie should focus on the positives of his own team because I thought they were excellent, they played really well and deserved their victory.
“I'm not going to sit here and talk about Lewis and the penalty. He should a bit of courage to get up and take it. He has scored plenty between the start of the season and now and no doubt will take the next one and put it in the back of the net.”
