Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Eriksson rues 'grey area'

28 Dec 2007 - 07:40:07

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Sven-Goran Eriksson was left disappointed as Manchester City lost their 100 per cent home record to a controversial equaliser in Thursday's 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

The Citizens missed out on the opportunity of moving back into the top four after Roque Santa Cruz's 84th minute header at Eastlands.

The flag was initially raised as an offside David Dunn tried to make contact with the ball, but when David Bentley's cross flew over his head for Cruz to flick home the equaliser, the goal was allowed to stand.

Darius Vassell had given City a first-half lead and a Ryan Nelsen own goal had edged them back in front after a first equaliser from the in-form Santa Cruz.

"Dunn was in an offside position and he tried to flick the ball but it went over him," claimed Eriksson.

"By being in that position, Dunn decides what our goalkeeper is going to do.

"Whether that is interference according to FIFA I don't know, but to me it is interference.

"I asked the referee to explain it to me afterwards and he did say it is a big grey area.

"If we had been more lucky we could have won the match in the first half and scored one or two more.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't hold the lead we had with a few minutes to play."