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RSSHNT: Fresh bid
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Hearts are bidding to have Michael Stewart's second yellow card against Gretna quashed.
Although there is no formal appeal avenue open to Hearts in respect of the midfielder's second cautionable offence, the club has written to the Scottish Football Association highlighting the "exceptional" nature of the case and requesting the second booking be nullified.
Michael was sent off following a spat with Danny Grainger in the first half of the Fir Park clash, although the red card was reduced to a booking on appeal earlier this week.
The player received a further caution for his reaction in the tunnel to the decision by referee Mike Tumilty, a decision - which would not have happened had Michael not been wrongly ordered off - which has triggered a three-match suspension.
The request will be lodged with the SFA's disciplinary committee next week.
Assistant head coach Stephen Frail said today: "Michael has had his red card reduced to a yellow but I'm not convinced it was even a booking. Had he not been sent off, he wouldn't have been in the tunnel area.
"He has received a one-match ban for what he did but nevertheless, it underlines the need to be really disciplined and the players are aware of that."
Meanwhile, midfielder Eggert Jonsson is struggling to make tomorrow's showdown with league leaders Celtic.
The Icelandic international injured his Achilles in the 1-1 draw with Gretna and has been receiving intensive treatment this week. Although the injury has been responding, Stephen revealed today that the youngster is unlikely to make the big game.
"Eggert has to be rated as very doubtful," he told Hearts News Today.
"We won't risk him it's not 100 per cent. He has been getting treatment all week but he's a doubt. He's our only real concern ahead of the game, which we're all looking forward to."
