ROBBIE NEILSON has claimed his discussion with John Beaton may have influenced the decision in the lead up to Hearts' goal against Celtic.

The Hearts boss admitted his side's goal, when Liam Boyce pulled one back, looked offside but insisted Giorgos Giakoumakis' finish for Celtic should've been ruled out.

Quizzed on his talks with Beaton during the match, Neilson told BBC Sportsound: "I was talking to him about the offside.

"For me the linesman has got to see it. For me it's a bread and butter one for him and he's not done his job."

But Neilson went on to say the decision was evened out when Hearts' consolation strike was allowed to stand.

And he questioned whether the decision would've been the same had he not pulled up the officials over the first call.

He said: "Probably me speaking to him (the linesman) at half-time has maybe influenced him. 

"I think it can happen. If we just accept it then does he give it second-half I don't know.

"It's only my thoughts on it but to be honest it was two bad decisions.

"I'm sure he'll look at it tonight with slight disappointment which I think he should."

Neilson also branded the match a game of two halves after being disappointed by his side's start to the match.

He said: "There was a bit of disappointment. Celtic are a very good team but I felt we allowed them to be good.

"We didn't really get to the ball and didn't press them and they've got some brilliant movement and really slick play but I felt we allowed them a bit.

"It was probably a game of two halves."