Hearts: Gary Locke bemoans disallowed goal

Hearts manager Gary Locke felt his side deserved more than a point from their goalless draw with Dundee United at Tynecastle.

The Edinburgh side had a goal chalked off in controversial circumstances when a Dylan McGowan tap-in was disallowed for a push.

"Unfortunately it's another controversial decision that's gone against us," said Locke.

"That seems to be the way things are going for us."

The hosts were under pressure for most of the first half, although Jamie Hamill's shot from 35 yards had Radoslaw Cierzniak at full stretch and Danny Wilson headed just over from a corner.

United were also left incensed after a goal was ruled out by an assistant referee, then a few minutes later Callum Paterson's long throw caught out Cierzniak to leave McGowan with a tap-in, but the ref blew for a foul.

Locke said he raised the matter with referee Steven McLean at the interval but was dismissed, and, despite the decision having a negative impact on the result, he was still pleased with the performance from his young squad.

"I spoke to him at half-time and he said it was the linesman that made the decision," said Locke. "But I couldn't be happier - I thought to a man you saw the reaction of the fans.

"They're giving us absolutely everything. I thought in the second half we were on the front foot most of the time.

"They looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but I'll need to see the decision again from the first half, because I'm now thinking we should have won 1-0.

"I'm disappointed for the players, because we're just not getting the rub of the green in terms of big decisions, but certainly with their effort and commitment, they deserved three points."

Next up for Hearts is a visit from second-bottom St Mirren, with just eight points separating the sides at the foot of the Premiership table, and Locke understands the importance of the game for his side to claw back some of the penalty they suffered for entering administration in the summer.

"It's a big game, another home game that we need to take points from," said Locke.

"We've just got to try and keep eating into the points and get to zero - that's been the target all along.

"I'm disappointed about today, though - we should have got three points, but we'll take one."