Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen has expressed his disappointment at the way defender Thierry Gathuessi was treated by Rangers supporters on Sunday.Paatelainen and Rangers boss Walter Smith angrily went face to face at Ibrox after striker Nacho Novo was handed a straight red card for an ugly two-footed lunge on right-back Gathuessi.

Smith claimed the Finn and his dug-out team tried to get Rangers players booked and sent-off in the 1-0 Scottish Cup fifth-round replay win for the hosts by goading referee Craig Thomson into brandishing cards.

Paatelainen denies such a claim and later made up with Smith, but he has revealed his unhappiness at the way Gathuessi was treated by the crowd after the tackle.

The Easter Road boss has described Novo's 79th-minute challenge as "horrendous" and potentially leg-breaking, yet he feels his defender was then "victimised" for the remainder of the game by the Ibrox fans.

Paatelainen, who rushed to the touchline immediately after the incident, said: "It was a horrendous tackle, one that could have broken his leg, but Thierry got up as soon as he could and did not roll about on the ground.

"My biggest concern was that Thierry didn't react. He might as well have stood up and gave a left hook, that's what I was worried about.

"Thankfully he stayed calm and I felt he behaved very well in the match.

"I think it was unfair (the crowd). The boy was being victimised, people started booing him and shouting abuse to him. It was unreal."

But Paatelainen is keen to put an end to the words that have since dominated the incident and admits he sought out Smith post-match to resolve any lingering differences.

Ahead of Wednesday's key SPL home meeting with Motherwell in the race for the UEFA Cup, he added: "I had to ask when we went to see Walter and the coaching staff after if it was a safe place? Thankfully it was.

"It was just one of these things, both parties wanting to win the game and something like that happens, so we both react.

"Everybody understands why and it's not a big deal at all. Walter had calmed down as well after the game.

"I'd rather leave that behind us and concentrate on the Motherwell game."

More Football News from TEAMtalk