Morton’s manager Jim Duffy has admitted to being embarrassed by his behaviour during Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw with Hibs at Easter Road.
In time added on, Morton substitute Kudus Oyenuga’s reckless challenge on Jordon Forster sparked mayhem on the pitch. The former Tottenham Hotspurs striker was approached by Hibs’ skipper Darren McGregor and he threw himself to the ground feigning having been headbutted.
As other payers and staff from both teams got involved, Neil Lennon was confronted by Duffy and both men were restrained.
Lennon subsequently said that Duffy was looking for a ‘square go.’
Referee Nick Walsh correctly sent off Oyenuga then after consulting his linesman showed a red card to McGregor and ordered both Lennon and Duffy to the stand.
Hibs have appealed McGregor’s dismissal and the influential defender will be available for the game against Dunfermline on Saturday.
The compliance officer will look at the video footage of the incident before deciding whether Lennon and Duffy will receive further punishment.
Duffy, who formerly had an unsuccessful spell as manager of Hibs and was sacked after a horrendous sequence of results issued a statement on the Morton FC Website which read:
“Firstly, I would like to say that I watched the footage on television last night and, from my point of view, I was embarrassed when I saw my reaction.
“I am not going to get involved in a public debate with the Hibs manager, but what I would state is that I categorically, 100 per cent did not ask for a ‘square go’ or use anything even remotely like that term. Yes, I acted immaturely – but I’m not 12 years old.”
Hibs remain 10 points clear of the Greenock side in the quest for automatic promotion.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
