Mark Hudson admits he's at a loss to explain the decision behind Callum Robinson's disallowed goal during the defeat to Coventry City on Saturday.
Robinson thought he'd cancelled out Viktor Gyokeres' first-half opener at the Cardiff City Stadium just after the interval, controlling a Joe Ralls header with his back to goal before turning to fire home.
But referee Bobby Madley, after consulting his assistant, deemed the Republic of Ireland international to be offside, disallowing the goal.
It was a decision that would, in many ways, sum up a frustrating afternoon for the hosts, as they were condemned to their first defeat under the interim boss.
However, while frustrated at the incident, Hudson admitted the decision wasn't enough to mask what he believes was a disappointing performance.
"I think the first half we weren't at the level we were last week and we spoke about that at half-time," he said. We started the second half really well and scored a goal that was disallowed.
"I think that in a moment where you know you've not started a game well, but you've started the second half better, you get yourself back in the game and it gets taken away from you.
"I'm still trying to work it out. I've watched it back over and over again. He's onside. They've given it offside because of the rule that the defender isn't in control of the ball.
"My argument to that is that good strikers keep themselves onside. And he was onside throughout that.
"So it's disappointing, but overall we didn't work the keeper enough. So I'm not going to make excuses for the performance.
"We weren't quite at it."
The main bone of contention appears to be whether the ball had come off Coventry defender Kyle McFadzean before reaching Robinson, although Hudson believes such speculation should be rendered irrelevant given he believed Robinson to be onside anyway.
Hudson revealed he spoke to Madley shortly after the game, but says those conversations didn't yield any further answers.
"I spoke to Bobby afterwards. Still can't understand what it was. He's saying that he's given offside because of an action that is the defender not being in control of the ball.
"But the main part of that is he's not offside during any part of the move.
"So, again. We have to agree to disagree on that. He can't change a decision once he's made it.
"I think it's wrong. That's where we are.
"I can't understand because he's onside. It's not the rule. The rule of whether the defender is in control of the ball, or is in action where he's trying to play the ball. Apparently even if he mis-controls. It doesn't count as being in control.
"I don't understand it. The refs don't understand it. I think it's not good for the game and you'll have ask the hierarchy about it."
