Barnsley's Rob Kozluk has admitted that the Canaries have been thrown a lifeline after a sickening last minute penalty decision cost the Reds three vital away points at Coventry last night.
One-nil up through Daniel Bogdanovic and seemingly cruising to a massive victory, Surrey official Stephen Cook pointed to the spot ? after initially awarding a corner ? for a 'handball' by Kozluk; one that he vehemently denies.
It looked debatable to say the least, even from my position in the yellow and green corner. Freddy Eastwood's shot was arrowing towards him with such venom, it would have been impossible to get out of the way.
But City boss Bryan Gunn will take anything at this point ? and let's face it, referees haven't exactly been too kind to the Norfolk club recently.
Maybe last night was when it all turned? A two point gap instead of a four point one will certainly give the troops a lift.
“I've seen Eastwood have a strike, I've jumped across it and it has hit me in the ribs,” Kozluk told BBC Radio Sheffield after the game, clearly still fuming. “I've got a mark on my ribs and I went over to the linesman.
“The referee asked the linesman if it was a penalty and he said 'I think so'. I said to him 'this is costing us, this is our livelihood'.
“You can clearly see the ball mark on my ribs and we're all distraught in the dressing room. I hope the referee looks at the video but he can't change anything now.
“He's cost us. I've never been so distraught in my life. We were a minute away from being four points ahead and Norwich must be rubbing their hands together now. But we've got to pick ourselves up and concentrate on Wolves.”
Last night's drama will have certainly given City supporters renewed hope. They now know that anything other than a Tykes win over title-chasing Wolves on Saturday will leave City a victory away from leapfrogging them.
Despite the doom and gloom around after the East Anglian Derby defeat, I'd be gobsmacked if this rollercoaster ride didn't go right down to the wire.
“We were a minute away from Norwich needing to win both games but they've got another lifeline now,” added the Barnsley defender. “But at least it's still in our own hands and we can do it.
“Lifting ourselves will not be a problem, not when the prize is staying in the Championship, but we're disappointed. We got a good point at Reading but we feel like we were robbed tonight.”
And a clearly animated Kozluk couldn't resist saving his final words for another dig at the referee who cost them a priceless win on the road.
The decision to appoint such an inexperienced official ? this was only Cook's second game at Championship level ? also infuriated the Reds full-back. Not a good day all round.
“There were not many games on the night and they've put a kid in charge. The FA should look at that but at the end he was saying he was going to report a few of us. If he does, and we miss games, then he has cost us again.”
A sentiment that Tykes boss Simon Davey was happy to echo…
“I tried to knock on his door after the game, but he was having the longest shower I've ever known in my life,” the Welshman told the Sheffield Star after the game. “I think the linesman is rubbing his back.
“I was told after the game that it was only his (the referee's) second Championship game, which when you look at it in hindsight, considering the importance of the fixture, especially for us, you'd expect a more experienced referee. But that's not for me to decide.
“What they (the FA) should look at is the teams fighting for their lives; they should appoint somebody for those matches who has got some experience and a wise head.
“You want somebody who makes the right decision 95 per cent of the time and not 60 per cent of the time.
“It's not an apprenticeship. That's what's been difficult to take over the season to be honest.”
Tom Haylett
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