BLUES boss Jim Magilton was happy to accept a little help from the referee as Town beat East Anglian rivals Norwich City 3-2 and push them towards relegation.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton was happy to accept a little help from the referee as Town beat East Anglian rivals Norwich City 3-2 and push them towards relegation.

Canaries boss Bryan Gunn revealed after the match that Magilton had admitted he didn't think it was a penalty.

Magilton expressed his surprise that referee Neil Swarbrick had given the spot kick, which Giovani Dos Santos converted, but then didn't even book City keeper David Marshall after Kevin Lisbie tumbled over him.

Magilton said: “Some you get some you don't. The referee gives it so it is a penalty.

“Not that I ever want to see an opponent sent off but if it is a penalty why has he has not sent off the keeper, yet he has not even cautioned him.

“It was a counter attack, a great ball, great run and he has slipped it over the keeper. Kev is an experienced player and knows what he is doing. On another day another referee may not gave the penalty and book him instead.

“Gio showed great composure to slot it away.”

Lisbie also looked to have handled in the build up to the penalty but Magilton didn't spot that. He said: “I never saw that but then we all tend to ball watch anyway. It was pretty contentious and Norwich may look at that as the turning point of the game.

The penalty came with the scores at 1-1 each after David Mooney had put City ahead and then Alan Quinn equalised.

Magilton said: “In the second half we turned it up a notch and played some really good stuff. We played a high line and showed great quality.

“Alan Quinn's goal is a great finish and we have showed glimpses f that, mainly away from home, but I thought it was a terrific all round performance.”

Jon Stead made it three before Quinn pushed Alan Lee and Sammy Clingan converted from the spot.

Magilton said: “I could have strangled Quinny. That one little blip has marred a magnificent performance from him and it made for a nervous finish.

“They have thrown the kitchen sink at us and we had to defend.”

The win pushes Town to ninth place, the highest position they can finish.