Raith Rovers assistant manager Paul Smith was left to rue a tale of two penalties as Hearts claimed a contentious 3-1 win at Tynecastle.
Rovers went in 2-0 down at the break after former Stark’s Park loan star Wighton converted two spot-kicks, albeit footage showed that referee Craig Napier was wrong to award the first for handball against Kyle Benedictus.
But Manny Duku put the visitors on the comeback trail with a fine goal after the break and, rubbing salt into Raith wounds, they were then denied a stick-on penalty of their own when Stephen Kingsley handled a Grant Anderson cross.
Smith – in charge in the dugout while McGlynn recovers at home following gallbladder surgery – said: “I thought we should have had a penalty at the time and, speaking to the players, they said it was a handball under rules nowadays.
Craig Wighton is the hat-trick hero for @JamTarts, and what a way to do it! 🎩
Robbie Neilson's team are set to claim all 3 points in this one 💜 pic.twitter.com/Q0pXIIxok3
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) October 13, 2020
Duku gets @RaithRovers back into this one with a brilliant strike! 🔥
Blasted into the top corner, the keeper had no chance 💥 pic.twitter.com/UTxEvuezOW
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) October 13, 2020
“Given the dispute over the first penalty Hearts get, then for us not to get that decision to make it 2-2 – it would have been game on.
“That would have changed the game. We were well in charge of the game at that time and creating chances. That would have put them under a bit of pressure.”
Given the messy recent relationship between these clubs – from courtroom battles to SFA arbitration – it seemed inevitable that controversy would ensue. And it took around 60 seconds.
A Kingsley free-kick appeared to strike Benedictus flush in the back, only for referee Napier to point to the penalty spot.
Wighton stepped up and, two years and two months after joining from Dundee, slotted home his first competitive goal for the club.
Another penalty effectively settled the contest prior to half-time when the unfortunate Benedictus slipped as he and Wighton chased a hopeful punt over the top, tripping the latter in the process.
Napier deemed that the offence had taken place in the box, despite howls to the contrary from visiting players. Wighton, again, tuned out the protests and converted.
💜 @JamTarts double their lead from the penalty spot
Wighton steps up again, and makes absolutely no mistake 👏 pic.twitter.com/GfhxWdwdyp
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) October 13, 2020
Hearts take a very early lead from the penalty spot, but it's a very controversial one! 😱
Raith Rovers' Kyle Benedictus penalised for hand ball in the wall, but the replay suggests it might have hit his back 😬 pic.twitter.com/8EFu0gTNtd
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) October 13, 2020
Duku halved arrears ten minutes into the second half, lashing a ferocious drive past Stewart.
Salt was rubbed into Rovers wounds when an Anderson cross struck the arm of Kingsley in the box. Under new rules, it was a penalty but Napier was unmoved.
And Wighton soothed any lingering nerves with a fine solo strike on the break as Rovers threw bodies forward.
