McLeish's View: Liverpool (a)

Last updated : 10 November 2009 By Brian Cartlidge
A goal apiece for Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome had cancelled out David N'Gog's opener for the home side  and given Blues a 2-1 half time lead at Anfield before the contentious penalty decision arose.

With Blues soaking up relentless Liverpool pressure, substitute Lee Carsley was deemed by referee Pater Walton to have brought down N'Gog in the penalty area, although tv replays clearly show that Carsley made no contact with the French forward, and Steven Gerrard sent Joe Hart the wrong way to equalise from the resulting penalty kick.

"It's a clear dive by N'Gog. It is a shame for the game but he has conned the referee," McLeish told ESPN after the 2-2 draw.

"Lee has dived in and when you dive in you are always at risk, but there's no contact. It wasn't even close to being a penalty.

"Mr Walton is a great referee but he has got that wrong.

"I thought they huffed and puffed but I don't think they were going to score, if we hadn't had that I think we would have won.

"He could have hurdled him, he didn't have to go to ground.

"It is ludicrous, part of the game is evading the challenges but he has got his team a penalty and they got a point, but unfortunately it cost us possibly two points.

"It was a great performance, we have scored two cracking goals after Liverpool had taken the lead, not many teams take the lead at Anfield after Liverpool go in front.

"They say it evens itself out but it evens itself out more for the big teams.

"The players were brilliant tonight and the spirit in the dressing is great."