McLeish's View: Sheffield United (a)

Last updated : 01 March 2009 By Brian Cartlidge

The Blues boss was clearly upset with the linesman's decision not to award offside for the Blades first goal and then, after Blues had clawed their way back into the game with an equaliser, referee Lee Mason's decision to award the hosts a penalty seven minutes from time which David Cotterill despatched to earn his side a controversial 2-1 win at Bramall Lane on Sunday lunchtime.

"The officials have had a bad day, there has got to be better quality than that from officials, just the same as you ask for better quality from some of the players," McLeish said after the defeat.

"We've suffered pretty badly with recent decisions throughout the season I have to say.

"The penalty decision was absolutely ludicrous, if that's a penalty then the referee has got to give 20 penalties in a game, and the first goal was offside.

"I think the award was given against Stephen Carr, it's such a big decision to give in a game of this magnitude.

"We feel hard done by, we've had one penalty this season and some teams have had 15 or 16. It's unbelievable.

"The officials have had a bad day in a game where there is no hiding place for them as the live camera's were here today."