Craig Levein has sent a festive message to Derek McInnes accusing the Aberdeen manager of talking tripe.
To be fair to the veteran Hearts boss talking tripe is a subject that he is very familiar with.
Levein started 2018 by claiming that the ‘natural order’ had been restored by a Scottish Cup win over Hibs before finishing the SPFL season in sixth place- 33 points behind Celtic and 18 behind Neil Lennon’s side.
Scott Brown was a regular target for the Hearts boss during the year with Bobby Madden added to the menu after a recent loss to the tribute act.
After being hammered 5-0 at Livingston Levein called off a Christmas weekend in Prague for his players who responded with a 2-0 defeat away to Aberdeen.
Reflecting on the match at Pittodrie the Hearts boss decided to reveal details of a private conversation with McInnes.
“Goals change games and that game on Saturday was changed – three different penalty incidents, two went against us and one went for Aberdeen,” Levein whinged to the Edinburgh News.
“And I have to laugh when I listen to Derek having a pop. This is the same Derek McInnes that was on the phone to me three weeks ago crying his eyes out about the decisions that he got in the Celtic game, and the sending-off he got against Rangers. So I have to laugh. Double standards all day long.
“And he even said to me – this is funny – that he stopped complaining about referees because he felt that he got more decisions going for him if he didn’t complain. So, listen I have got to laugh. I have got articles where he has complained four or five times about officials already this season. He forgets that.
“He also tried to get Steven Naismith sent off, which I will remember as well. I don’t think there was anything in it and I don’t think anyone I have spoken to did but Derek tried to get him sent off. I saw him.
“Listen, I have got respect for every manager in the league but when he comes out with the tripe he comes out with after the game on Saturday, then I get annoyed.”
The fun loving Hearts boss rounds off another year of failure with a home match against Hamilton on Wednesday before a trip to Easter Road on Saturday.
In 1986 Levein missed Hearts final match of the season, away to Dundee due to a sore tummy.