‘Common sense’ - Hull City boss questions match-winning penalty decision for Bristol City

Hull City manager Liam Rosenior was baffled by the referee's decision to award Bristol City a penalty but admits his team did not perform today.

The Robins - after going 469 days without a penalty - had their second within a week which Nahki Wells stepped up and scored from for another game running. Wells scored the equalising penalty against Sunderland in stoppage-time to earn a point, but against Hull his effort was earlier and ended up winning the match in a close-fought encounter.

It was Cyrus Christie who was penalised in the match's key moment as Anis Mehmeti's cross hit the body of the experienced defender and he was adjudged to have blocked the ball with his hand. Referee Samuel Barrott deemed it handball and awarded a penalty to the hosts.

He said: "It’s a difficult job, I think everyone knows it’s not a penalty. At the same time, can I sit here honestly and say that is the reason we lost the game? Definitely not. It’s a difficult job, it’s frustrating because key decisions when they go against you are always frustrating. The finger of blame points at myself and the team today.

"It’s a common sense decision, I will say clearly, I’ve watched it clearly. There is no way that Cyrus Christie can get out of the way of that. There’s no way he’s intentionally gone to block the ball with his arms and there’s no where he can put his arms. The lad shot it at 100 miles-per-hour and the thing that is frustrating it is a common sense decision.

"It’s not even a 50/50. I don’t think anyone appealed for it. The fans certainly did because there is a good group of fans here I know that but in terms of it’s never been a penalty. It’s crazy, but I will make this point clear that is not why we lost the game today."

Despite entering the dressing rooms at half-time goalless, the former Robins defender was not pleased from the performance from his side. The hosts had the lions share of the chances and did everything but open the scoring in the first 45 minutes of the match, taking a firm control of the match.

"We were well below par," added Rosenior. We’ve been consistent for a long time, that’s two now in 16 games. For me we’ll talk about the penalty that isn’t a penalty but we didn’t deserve that luck.

"The header from Benji and Longy’s chance, but it’s the reaction to us going to a goal down. I want to see the reaction from the first whistle and we didn’t have that today. It’s something which is bitterly disappointing for me. I’ll accept losing that’s part of football but I can’t accept that first-half performance because we were very fortunate to come in 0-0."