Robbie Neilson blames plastic pitch for poor Hearts performance as Jambos scrape late point against Queen of the South

Robbie Neilson believes the artificial surface put the brakes on Hearts’ title charge as they had to rescue a late point against Queen of the South.

The Championship leaders drew for the first time this season after Liam Boyce’s 90th-minute penalty cancelled out an ice-cool effort from 12 yards from Ayo Obileye in the first half.

Neilson put that down to the playing surface at Palmerston but his side were too pedestrian against Allan Johnston’s Doonhamers.

The Jambos struggled to create much under the Friday night lights and were lucky to not be on the receiving end of a defeat.

But the manager said said: “I thought we had control of the game but it was very difficult to get any quality. It becomes a game of kick and rush at times, holding the ball and it’s spinning away from you.

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“We controlled a lot of the game but our quality in the final third wasn’t there. To be honest, I put it down to this surface. It’s very difficult.

“Once a team gets back into their shape, they played four at the back and five in midfield – it’s very difficult to break them down on this surface because you have to take the extra touch and the ball spins differently on it.

“I think on a grass pitch we play a lot more one-touch football whereas here, you have to take the touch to control it and play the pass, so it slows the game right down.”

Neilson felt referee Colin Steven was too quick to give the first spot-kick when Isaiah Jones got goalside of Stephen Kingsley.

He was happier, however, with the decision to penalise Rhys Breen when the defender took Boyce down inside the area.

(Image: SNS Group)

He added: “The first one, I’ve seen it again and he hangs his leg out to make the contact so for me, it’s not a penalty. If anything, the boy puts his leg into our player.

“The second one, he comes through the back of him so that’s a definite penalty.

“We’re disappointed not to take three points, Did we do enough to get three points? Probably not.

“It feels like a good point in the end. Our hunt is to try and get the league title and it’s another step forward for us.”