Wigan Athletic FC

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• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

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Bruce berates Wiley display

19 Oct 2008 - 07:47:58

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Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce was left fuming after his side's 3-2 defeat at Liverpool, feeling that the Latics had been robbed by referee Alan Wiley.

Bruce was incensed at the second-half dismissal of Antonio Valencia, who was shown two yellow cards for encroaching at a free-kick and then for a challenge on Xabi Alonso.

"In my opinion we were robbed," Bruce insisted. "It is a joke that we have not come away from this match with something.

"The referee got the first booking for Valencia wrong. The Liverpool player took the kick and Valencia did not encroach towards it until the ball had been kicked. So he got that one wrong.

"Then there is the tackle on Alonso, in which I felt the lad touched the ball. I felt that was harsh.

"Those decisions changed the whole course of the game. With 11 against 11 we would not have lost. But there were a lot of tired bodies out there and we could not hold out.

"When you are at Anfield you need some things to go for you. I keep hearing the word respect but I did not think we got that from the referee's performance."