August 15 2009

Neil Warnock

Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock was fuming after his side had a legitimate 'goal' not given in the defeat at Bristol City.

Freddie Sears shot into the bottom corner of the net but the ball rebounded out and referee Robert Shoestring awarded a goal kick believing the ball went into the side netting.

Nicky Maynard then added insult to injury by scoring a last-minute winning goal for Bristol City.

Warnock said: "We can put a man on the moon, time serves of 100 miles per hour at Wimbledon, yet we cannot place a couple of sensors in a net to show when a goal has been scored.

"I feel sorry for the referee because he didn't get any help. But how can I mark him when he spoils an otherwise good display with a mistake of that importance?

"I thought Gary Johnson and his players could have shown more sportsmanship because they knew it was a goal, like everyone else. But I'm 60 years old and maybe I expect too much.

"I have a transfer embargo on me and a group of young players working their socks off for the club. They didn't deserve that today.

"We were cheated. And I'm not saying that against the referee because he didn't mean to get it wrong."

City manager Gary Johnson said: "In Neil's position I would feel the same as he does. Sometimes as the away manager a big decision goes against you, the crowd get on your back and it's very hard to keep things under control.

"It was a goal of course, but I don't see what I could have done about it at the time. I had my own team to think about because we weren't playing well in the first half.

"Neil didn't want to shake my hand and that's up to him. I can't say I was surprised after what had happened, but it's one of those things."