Source: Team_Talk
Benitez hoping his luck has changed
Reds boss Benitez has been under fierce pressure for weeks, and a draw against the newly-promoted Midlanders is nothing for the Merseysiders to shout about.[LNB]But their point came from a huge slice of luck when referee Peter Walton awarded a penalty against Lee Carsley for a tackle on David Ngog that made no contact with ball or opponent.[LNB]Birmingham boss Alex McLeish accused the French youngster of diving, and Benitez admitted the penalty should not have been given.[LNB]Ngog had grabbed an early lead for Liverpool, who were stunned by two goals before the break by Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome to give Birmingham the lead.[LNB]The penalty came midway through a one-sided second period, with Steven Gerrard - on as a substitute - ramming the spot-kick past Joe Hart.[LNB]McLeish was left fuming, saying: "There is no real debate, Ngog has dived to win his team a penalty, it happens in the game and has done for years and years.[LNB]"The referee didn't get that one right, and when he looks at it again I am sure he will agree.[LNB]"He's an honest enough guy, but he will probably agree that their player dived, and it was a terrific dive. Lee Carsley never touched him."[LNB]He added: "Lee dived in, and when you do that there is always a risk. But on this occasion there was no contact. That was not even close to being a penalty.[LNB]"I felt we were comfortable, but apart from when Gerrard made a late run to hit the post, I felt my defenders and the whole team were awesome.[LNB]"We scored two fine goals, a good set-piece for Benitez to get his first goal for us and then Jerome's cracker. It was a goal from the second it left his foot.[LNB]"The players deserve a lot of credit for the way the fought for everything."[LNB]And when quizzed on the penalty decision, Benitez conceded his side were fortunate.[LNB]He said: "We scored with a penalty that probably wasn't a penalty, but we deserved to win the game.[LNB]"It was clear, it was not a penalty, even if that works against us.[LNB]"There have been many times this season that we have not been awarded penalties we should have had.[LNB]"I have asked Ngog and he said that maybe it wasn't a penalty, either."[LNB]Benitez, who now has Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera suffering from hamstring injuries, revealed that Fernando Torres "did not feel confident to play."[LNB]Torres is struggling with a groin problem, and Benitez said: "Torres was not confident, we have now started a three-week course of treatment and we will have to see how he reacts. We are not considering an operation yet."[LNB][LNB]
