Bruce slams ref

Last updated : 08 December 2002 By Brian Cartlidge
Bruce felt defender Darren Purse was harshly done by when Winter awarded a penalty kick for hand-ball, while he claimed that Blues should have been awarded a penalty for a similar incident 10 minutes later when Olivier Tebily's shot appeared to strike Southampton forward James Beattie's arm in the penalty area.

Bruce said: "I'm not trying to make excuses because on the day our performance didn't warrant anything more than a goalless draw but I felt the whole turning point for the game was the referee's decision.

"I didn't think it was a penalty but if he gives that decision then he should have given us a penalty at the other end 10 minutes later and that's what we're unhappy about.

"The whole decision has left us baffled, confused and angry and all I'm asking for is a bit of consistency.

"The referee has a very difficult job to do but if he gives one decision then he has to give the other. I didn't think either was a penalty but I think things might have been different if we had been playing at St Andrews."

Southampton Match Report




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