Black hits out at Third Division hard men and referees

Ian Black has hit out at the Third Division hard men that have singled out the former Hearts man for a taste of his own medicine.

The midfielder believes that he is a marked man in the bottom tier as the focus turns on the collection of part-time butchers, postmen and labourers who are facing Sevco.

So far Black has picked up five yellow cards from 15 appearances and is on course to match last seasons collection of 13 yellow and two red including a run of five yellow and two red cards over 10 matches at the start of last season.

“I think our whole squad are marked men because of the size of the club and who we’re playing against,” the Scotland midfielder claimed.

“If some of these tackles happened in the SPL, you would be banned and done for assault.

“I think the referees are just waving them by unless you react and maybe the boy gets a booking.

“I don’t mind that but when there are a couple of overboard ones, referees have to stand up and say ‘Hold on, that’s enough’.”

Black added: “One Stirling challenge against me was a straight-legger that burst the strip right up on my chest. The boy got a booking.

“I got a straight-legger in the face at the weekend, which should have been a booking.

“Yet I’ve been sent off for stupid nothing tackles. I just find it strange. I’ve got five bookings in a row for nothing this season.

“I would love to open up about referees but I would get my fingers rapped. I could have lost an eye at the weekend. You can’t make allowances. If referees are giving them leeway then they shouldn’t be refereeing games.”

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