Laszlo: Dons showed us no respect

CSABA LASZLO today hit back at Jimmy Calderwood's accusations of time wasting by Hearts at Pittodrie last night, insisting the Aberdeen manager was out of order to suggest his players feigned injury.

Calderwood bemoaned the visitors' antics during a 0-0 draw which further reduced his own club's hope of securing European football for next season.

He claimed time wasting was a "foreign thing" and said Hearts "took the mickey" out of referee Stephen Finnie, who dismissed Marius Zaliukas for an off-the-ball kick at Chris Maguire on 64 minutes.

The comments irked Laszlo, who spoke out in defence of his players and intimated that Calderwood was being disrespectful. "This is unfair. Success is important in football but we did not waste time," he said. "If you lose points at home against Hearts you must explain to the public why you lost them. Maybe this is what my colleague was doing.

"We did not get any yellow cards for time wasting, we did not get any punishments, we played within the football rules. The most important thing for us now is to win against Dundee United and finish third.

"Every manager is under pressure. I had a very bad time in the last two weeks because we lost two games but I respect my opponent. If you respect your opponent you don't talk badly about him, and if you don't respect him you never win the game.

"Aberdeen have been close to reaching something before but they have a good team. Maybe last night was painful for them. If they won the game they would come very close to us, but they still have a chance to get fourth. Maybe they can fight with Dundee United for this."

Calderwood had caused a stir with his controversial post-match comments. He said: "Hearts came for a draw and they were stubborn. I think it was big Craig (Levein] earlier in the season who was complaining about Hamilton wasting time after 30 minutes. I think it was after two minutes last night. They are taking the mickey out of the referee.

"You can understand it after the lad got sent off, don't get me wrong, but the referee has to do something about it. The punters pay good money for the game and the time they wasted was unbelievable," Calderwood went on. "I don't think all that stuff, all that rolling about, on the pitch then off the pitch has anything to do with Scottish football. I really don't. In our day we'd have sorted it out. He (the referee] should have dealt with it.

"It's a foreign thing but it doesn't usually happen in the second or third minute. Bruno Aguiar, who's a fabulous player, is off the pitch and he rolls back on to it. Then I've got a wee problem."

Larry Kingston suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury last night and is due to be assessed by club medical staff. He is not expected to play again this season, however.