Raith Rovers boss Grant Murray praised his players despite their agonising League Cup exit to Hearts.
The Kirkcaldy side went toe to toe with their Premiership rivals throughout only to lose after an extra-time penalty shoot-out at Stark’s Park.
Liam Fox had put Raith ahead in normal time but Jamie Hamill equalised from the spot.
However, the game was then overshadowed by a controversial incident between Hamill and Raith’s Dougie Hill which saw the home player sent off.
Referee Brian Colvin felt there had been contact from Hill’s head into Hamill’s face but Murray insisted his player was innocent.
The manager said: “It was a big ask especially when we went down to 10 men. But I thought the commitment of the players tonight was fantastic.
“To run a very good Hearts side as close as we did … and then when it went to penalties it was a lottery but I am very proud of my players.
“I have looked at the video evidence and it wasn’t a sending off. There was nothing.
“It changed the game but it is one of these things we have to take on the chin and move on.
“Dougie is saying he never touched him. They just walked towards each other and the Hearts player has just gone down,” added Murray.
“It is very disappointing but you see it in a lot of games.
“But there was no contact. We have lost the game but we just have to move on and take the positives and there were lots there tonight.
“The boys are very disappointed in there as they felt it was a game they could have won even going down to 10 men.”