Eriksson blast for ref Webb after Santa's controversial equaliser for Rovers - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Eriksson blast for ref Webb after Santa's controversial equaliser for Rovers

Sven Goran Eriksson is unhappy referee Howard Webb allowed a controversial late Blackburn equaliser which robbed Manchester City of their 100 per cent home league record last night.

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Roque Santa Cruz powered home David Bentley's curling cross six minutes from time to earn Rovers a 2-2 draw.

Yet even visitors' boss Mark Hughes felt sure the goal would be disallowed after assistant referee Darren Cann raised his flag.

Rovers star David Bentley has his say to the linesman before Howard Webb allowed the goal to stand

Seasonal cheer: Santa Cruz celebrates

However, Cann then informed Webb he had incorrectly anticipated David Dunn getting a touch on Bentley's cross. And, while Dunn was in an offside position, he was deemed to be non-active, allowing Webb to give the goal.

"Whether that is interference according to FIFA I don't know but to me it is interference," argued Eriksson.

"By being in that position, Dunn decides what our goalkeeper is going to do.

"I asked the referee to explain it to me afterwards and he did say it is a big grey area. I really don't know."

For Hughes, who spent most of the second-half berating Cann and Webb for a stream of borderline decisions that went against his team, the incident represented a welcome turn of fortune.

"In fairness to the assistant, he was strong enough and brave enough to call Mr Webb over and admit he had made a mistake," said the Rovers chief.

"That obviously does not happen very often, so we are grateful for it. Now we have to capitalise on the turn of fortune."

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