Lee Grace insists referee Rob Hennessy was spot on in not awarding a penalty against him in last night’s derby clash between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians.
But Gypsies boss Keith Long was fuming at the decision and is adamant the match officials got it wrong.
Rory Gaffney secured an important win for the Hoops with a decisive 25th minute goal at a rocking Tallaght Stadium with 7,500 in attendance.
But Bohs felt they should have got a penalty four minutes before half-time when Kris Twardek went down under a Lee Grace challenge.
But asked if it was a penalty, the Rovers centre-back said: “No, a bit of a wrestle.
“I knew he was there but I couldn’t see him so I just got an arm on him, held him off, flicked it (the ball) with my left leg.
“That’s what I can remember but I haven’t seen it back. But never a peno, no.”
Grace added: “It was there last week, in Pat’s, when Eoin Doyle went down easy and I don’t think that was a peno either.
“When we got up and we were running off, he said, ‘Yeah you didn’t touch me.’ They’re the ones that are sometimes given against you but thankfully not tonight.”
But Bohs boss Long insists his team were denied a stonewall spot-kick and hit out at the costly decision against his team.
Long said: “It was a penalty. You guys (reporters) saw it as well as I did. We shouldn't be bemoaning the referees but we are again, unfortunately.
“We want the league to improve, to prosper; we want to raise the bar and raise the standards.
“Look at the stadium tonight, a full house, rocking, a great stadium, and this is the example for every other club to aspire to.
“But we shouldn't come away talking about the decisions of the officials. It's not really acceptable at this point.
“I'm in the league a long time, you guys have been on the circuit a long time, and I don't think this debate will ever end.”
Long continued: “Referees are human and they have to make decisions on the spot….but they pick and choose when they consult with the fourth official.
“I can't get drawn into condemning the referees. We are disappointed with the decision we didn't get tonight.
“Rob Hennessy is one of the best referees in the country. Ben Connolly, the fourth official, they are good lads, but tonight, in my view, they got the decision wrong.”
Predictably, Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley was siding with Grace’s version of events and said: “We were right behind it.
“I've said it a number of times but I think he (Hennessy) is the best in the country. He managed the game well, he didn't get caught up in nonsense.
“Thankfully he didn't give one because we've seen with these games in the past that decisions like that change games but he didn’t get sucked into that.”
