Derek McInnes: Celtic coach Mark Fotheringham apologised for reaction to goal

Hearts boss Derek McInnes revealed that Celtic first-team coach Mark Fotheringham phoned him to apologise for riling him during last Sunday’s 2-2 draw between the William Hill Premiership title rivals.

McInnes stormed into the Hoops’ technical area immediately after Benjamin Nygren’s opening goal, visibly angered by the way a member of Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff was celebrating.

“It was just one of their inexperienced coaches who got a bit carried away,” McInnes said after the match. “That’s all I’ve got to say on it.”

It subsequently emerged that former Huddersfield boss Fotheringham was the source of McInnes’ anger.

The Hearts manager said on Friday ahead of his side’s trip to Dundee United: “Just to clarify, I was annoyed.

“I’ve been up against loads of different dugouts over the years and loads of Celtic teams and I was really annoyed with the reaction.

“It surprised me and I thought it was out of order, so that was why I was annoyed about it.

“But in fairness to Mark, he’s not a boy I know too well, but I know people that know him. He’s a great lad, seemingly – but he phoned me Monday afternoon to apologise.

“He said there was no offence meant and if there was, he said he was sorry for that. I think that says a lot about him, so we move on.”

Uganda forward Rogers Mato became Hearts’ fourth January signing on Thursday and could make his debut away to United.

McInnes would still like to add another striker before the window closes on Monday if possible, but he conceded: “I think at this stage – as we sit here now – it looks unlikely at the minute.

“We’ve hit the bar with a couple, to be honest. We’ve tried to exhaust one or two situations.

“The club’s still chipping away at it but I’m just trying to be realistic in the sense that we’ve signed four this window and four that we were delighted to get in.

“We won’t give up on a fifth one but at this moment in time, it might just seem a bit unlikely.”

The fact leaders Hearts – four points clear at the top of the table – take on United on Saturday evening gives them a chance to steal a further march on title rivals Rangers and Celtic, who both play on Sunday.

McInnes played down any notion that victory at Tannadice would crank up the pressure on the Old Firm.

“I think it just helps the fact that we’ve got another chance to win a game,” he said.

“Of course, in terms of winning a game, it shows that we’re not going anywhere and we’re still winning games of football.

“I’m just really concentrating on making sure we pick the right team and try to get the right performance for the lads.

“It’s not really about mind games and trying to send out a signal, or this and that.

“Take care of the game first, win the game and then how people react to that is up to them.”