Source: Team_Talk
Mackay slams penalty decision
Referee Webb pointed to the spot in the fourth minute of stoppage-time when he decided Watford captain Jay DeMerit had handled a fierce shot from Scunthorpe skipper Cliff Byrne.[LNB]Scunthorpe's leading marksman Gary Hooper converted from the spot for his second goal of the game, to secure a 2-2 draw.[LNB]"It should never have been a penalty," insisted a furious Mackay after the game.[LNB]"The ball has hit DeMerit flush in the face at 100 miles an hour and after the game I took my player to see the referee to show him the state of his eye where the ball has hit him.[LNB]"The linesman, who was much nearer, has signalled for a corner but the referee has given a penalty which I find incredible.[LNB]"It was one of a series of strange decisions that we got from him this afternoon.[LNB]"To referee a game at Championship level requires an official with some experience and I don't think this referee has handled many games like this."[LNB]kay was disappointed his side had not capitalised on a dominant performance in the opening 45 minutes against a tired-looking Scunthorpe outfit.[LNB]The visitors monopolised but could not find their finishing touch in front of goal.[LNB]Instead it was Scunthorpe who snatched the lead against the run of play in the 42nd minute when a through-ball from Paul Hayes split the Watford defence wide open and Hooper raced in behind to finish with a well-taken shot past goalkeeper Scott Loach.[LNB]Watford were back on level terms in the 64th minute when striker Danny Graham fired home after the Scunthorpe defence had failed to deal with a right-wing corner.[LNB]The visitors were then reduced to 10 men after 82 minutes when midfielder Tom Cleverley was shown a straight red card for his high challenge on Scunthorpe's Michael O'Connor.[LNB]But Watford then seemed set for victory when, in the last minute of normal time, John Eustace headed them in front from a left-wing corner.[LNB]However Hooper saved Scunthorpe a point from the spot with his 13th goal of the season.[LNB]"I'm very disappointed with the result in more ways than one," said Mackay.[LNB]"We had enough chances in the first half to have been three or four goals ahead and have got to learn to be more clinical in front of goal."[LNB]Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins was relieved to see his side salvage a draw, but still felt they had done enough to claim victory.[LNB]"We have got to look at this game as two points dropped," he said.[LNB]"We did not get going in the first half and about the only decent bit of football we put together saw us go in front with an excellent finish from Hooper.[LNB]"It underlined his value that he has to our side and he so nearly struck again early in the second half.[LNB]"We want to be a good passing team but sometimes the state of the winter pitches does not allow that.[LNB]"I thought we played much better in the second half and to concede two goals from set-pieces is really disappointing.[LNB]"We felt Watford's opening goal should not have been allowed because there was a clear foul on our goalkeeper but then the referee has had an interesting game.[LNB]"I'm sure though that it was handball for the penalty which has earned us a point.[LNB]"It's another step for us in the right direction. Our home form is good and we have got to continue building on it."[LNB][LNB]
