Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has slammed the failure to award Birmingham City a penalty in the first half at Southampton.
Wayne Rooney's Blues were having a torrid first half, behind to goals from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Carlos Alcaraz and in truth were deservedly 2-0 down.
However, while there was some doubt as to whether Harwood-Bellis was offside for his early header, there was absolutely none regarding an incident on the half hour when Saints’ goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu came out to claim a ball at the edge of his area only to clatter Oliver Burke. Blues called for a penalty but referee David Webb declined to award one.
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Speaking on Sky Sports Dean lambasted him. He said: “It’s embarrassing to be fair, it such a bad decision. The Birmingham player has won the ball, the keeper has just smashed him in the back.
“It’s not even a hard decision, as much as I don’t like hammering refs and officials it’s such a poor decision, it’s such an easy decision to give. The ‘keeper is nowhere near the ball, Jutkiewicz [Burke] has won the header and he has just been wiped out, it’s a penalty all day. That’s just basic refereeing. It’s such a poor decision I am so annoyed.”
Pundit – and former Blues striker – Emile Heskey agreed and added: “It’s dangerous as well, it’s reckless, he’s out of control he’s not got anywhere near the ball and he’s endangering an opponent. I can’t see how you don’t give that.”
Blues were en route to their third defeat in three games under Rooney.
