Source: Team_Talk
Cotterill fumes at spot-kick drama
Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill was angry with referee Gavin Ward's decision to award QPR a late penalty after the 1-1 draw at Fratton Park.[LNB] Liam Lawrence had put the home side ahead from the spot at the second time of asking on Tuesday night after Matt Connolly was sent off for bringing down Dave Kitson in the area.[LNB]Then, in stoppage time, Lawrence was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, earning a second yellow card and allowing Tommy Smith to score from the spot to keep QPR top of the Championship.[LNB]Cotterill said: "Liam has a ball mark (on his chest). The only thing he hasn't got is 'Mitre' written on him. It's not even a small ball mark. It's a whole ball, so that's probably why he got frustrated and got sent off.[LNB]"I thought the game was too much for the officials - all of them. They should have put an experienced ref in for tonight's game - a big game like that in front of a big crowd. Whoever sorted out the ref has missed a trick.[LNB]"Liam has a ball mark and it's still red."[LNB]The Pompey chief also commented on his meeting with new owner Balram Chainrai.[LNB]"I had lunch with him briefly, but it wasn't ideal. I don't want to be talking too much on a matchday.[LNB]"The crux of the conversation with him, Levi (Kushnir) and Deepak (Chainrai) is that they've got to get their feet under the table.[LNB]"It's all very well them coming in and saying 'wallop, here's a lot of money - off you go'. They've already done that here and been burnt a bit.[LNB]"Until the burns on their fingers dry up, I think they've got to learn to perhaps trust me. I'll be the one spending their money, if anybody. We might have to take that one nice and gently and not put any real pressure on them."[LNB]QPR boss Neil Warnock was also unhappy with a refereeing decision, this time the one to let Lawrence retake the penalty after missing his first attempt.[LNB]Warnock said: "Both Paddy Kenny's feet were on the line when he (Liam Lawrence) took the penalty. I'm absolutely disappointed with the decision.[LNB]"If the referee is going to do that, there was someone two metres inside the area when Lawrence took the second one. That's if we're being picky. The first one was a fantastic save.[LNB]"You could say justice was served, but I am disappointed we haven't won it, if I am honest.[LNB]"Apart from a shot that hit the bar in the first half [from John Utaka] I don't think Paddy had that much to do. We could have been a bit more clinical. But I just thought it was a good game with two good teams.[LNB]"We felt an injustice, but it's a hard league. I felt it was a good game in the conditions. I really enjoyed it and it didn't need something like that."
