Lee Johnson has let rip at rival Steven Naismith after the Edinburgh Derby ended in a brawl.
The Hibs boss was shown one of FOUR red cards after the final whistle in the 1-1 draw as the Jambos held on to fourth spot in the Premiership. Johnston appeared to lash out at the Gorgie boss to spark a 30 man pile up on the pitch. And the Hibs boss then blasted Naismith’s tactics, insisted the pair don’t get on and slaughter his opposite number for disrespecting Tynie predecessor Robbie Neilson.
Hearts goalie coach Paul Gallacher and backup keeper Ross Stewart were also carded for there part in the battle, along with Hibs sub Rocky Bashiri, with Alex Cochrane sent off after 30 minutes of the stormy encounter.There were punches thrown at the end – and even a hot water was lobbed – while defender Marijan Cabraja was also involved in a tussle with a Hearts fan during the match.
Johnson – who faces a touchline ban to start next season – continued the bad blood afterwards and said: "He's had seven games as a manager and I just think the way he speaks is disrespectful to the previous manager.
"We'll see after 250 games if he's lucky enough to still be in charge of any club, and if he still has that attitude. I couldn't even tell you what happened. It was a classic 'my dad's bigger than your dad' melee-type thing.
"It was a frustrating game in terms of the ebb and the flow because there was no flow. The time-wasting was quite embarrassing at times, that’s supposed to support free-flowing football.
"It was a case of two managers who don't like each other very much and that's what started it. I'll keep the hot water bottle that was thrown at me for winter!
"There was a bit of needle but it happens, technical areas are a passionate place. It's not a problem, we move on. I've been a manager that long, you see it all in the technical area. It means nothing.”
Naismith refused to take the bait but refuted Johnston’s claim he was too big for his boots as a rookie boss and had disrespected Neilson. He said: “He’s fishing I think, that’s what he’s doing.
“I’ve got a 15-year career at the top level. I’ve managed to pull things from some of the best managers around Britain. I’ve been in a role for the last two years under arguably Scotland’s best manager for a long period of time.
“I’m not naïve to think I know everything, but what I have done is my homework. I’ve had two solid years of good coaching. It’s part of the game.”
Naismith insisted he was trying to avoid the scap at the end. He said: “I’m not sure to be honest, I was shaking hands and getting out of there, I wasn’t getting involved in anything.
“I know these situations can turn into things, especially in a derby with high emotions, but I was just buzzing to get the result and enjoy it with the fans. As he said, the touchline is a manic place, or whatever it may be that he said.
“I had to watch, I was one yellow away from getting a suspension already, so I wasn’t involved.”
Johnson’s men pressed for an hour with an extra man but couldn’t make the breakthrough to nab fourth spot. But they could still claim a place in the Europa Conference League qualifiers if Celtic beat Inverness in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday.
The Easter Road gaffer said: "We had the chances but not enough. The boys looked for the golden ball too much.
"I was disappointed with our subs in terms of individual quality when they came on. They've got quality but we didn't do enough in terms of finding that moment to allow runs of attacks, and then we allowed them to waste time, the ballboys were slow, their 'keeper was walking.
"Fair play to them, that's their game management. Even the fan [wrestling with Cabraja] but that happens doesn't it? I'm proud of the second half of the season.
"If I look at the big picture now of where we are compared to where we were, we're in a fantastic place to progress. I will make changes over the summer, without a question of a doubt, there will be ins and outs. I'm not finished, we're not finished.
"Everything is looking up – the points tally in the top six has been good.”
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