Clarke criticises referee after being sent off in Kilmarnock’s loss at Hibs

Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke’s disgruntlement about referee Don Robertson’s “general performance” saw him sent to the stand at half-time in his side’s 5-3 defeat by Hibernian at Easter Road.

The sides were drawing 1-1 after Hibs midfielder Scott Allan fired in the opener in the 29th minute only for Killie skipper Kris Boyd to level with a header three minutes later.

The visitors had been denied two first-half penalty claims when Jordan Jones went to the ground after passing Darren McGregor and when Stephen O’Donnell had been challenged by Lewis Stevenson.

Clarke watched from the stand as Steven Whittaker, Jamie Maclaren, Florian Kamberi and substitute Brandon Barker scored second-half goals for Hibs, with Kilmarnock stopper Stuart Findlay and Boyd notching again.

The former West Brom boss said: “Probably the best (thing) to say about the referee is I have never commented on a referee and today I got sent off.

“It was just the general performance from the referee. Obviously (the penalty claims) were in my thoughts at half-time.

“I spoke to him as I was going out for the second half as obviously I have work to do at half-time.

“I didn’t know until I was going to the pitch for the second half and he just asked me to watch it from upstairs and I said ‘as long as he supplies the ticket I will be fine’.”

Clarke had been linked with the manager’s job at Rangers in midweek and, when asked about it again, he said: “I am fed up talking about Rangers.

“There was no contact from anybody and, as far as I know, an official approach to the club.”

Hibs boss Neil Lennon was sympathetic to Clarke’s dismissal.

He said: “I don’t know why he got sent to the stand. Steve Clarke is the last person to lose his temper with anybody.

“Steve isn’t like that. I have total sympathy for him in that, he can’t do his job for the second half, it is not right.”

Hibs extended their unbeaten run to 11 games as they continue their search for second spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership, sitting three points behind Aberdeen with three games remaining.

The Northern Irishman said: “It was a great game with two teams going out for the win.

“I have to pay tribute to Kilmarnock, they were superb and the game could have quite easily ended in a draw but I am pleased with the character we showed.

“The only criticism is the first goal we conceded, to leave Kris Boyd free in our box is criminal really but they scored two other good goals.”