BLUES boss Jim Magilton labelled the linesman who gave a penalty against Ipswich Town a 'bottler' as Ipswich stretched their away run without a run to 12 matches.
By Derek Davis
BLUES boss Jim Magilton labelled the linesman who gave a penalty against Ipswich Town a 'bottler' as Ipswich stretched their away run without a run to 12 matches.
Magilton was livid that Liam Trotter was penalised for a high boot on Nick Montgomery which led to the spot kick which James Beattie converted to give Sheffield United a 2-1 lead. Beattie had already put the Blades ahead although Jon Walters then equalised.
Magilton said: “The linesman gave the penalty because he had not given one earlier when Gillespie went down, which I didn't think was even a foul.
“The crowd was vociferous and he bottled it. He gave the penalty against Liam because of the crowd. You have to be strong and the linesman was not strong enough.
“That changed the game.”
Magilton stressed that his side had started well enough but did admit it was poor defending that cost the first goal.
He said: “David Wright has let the lad cross and our centre backs didn't have Beattie. You can't allow a player of his ability that much space and time but they did.
“Up to that point we had been doing well and I was pleased. I said at half time they should keep doing the same things and it would happen for them but it didn't work out that way.”
Report - Pages 42 & 43
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