Furious Holloway maintain his dignity - and even gets praise from the ref after Foxes crash to Tractor Boys - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Furious Holloway maintain his dignity - and even gets praise from the ref after Foxes crash to Tractor Boys

Leicester manager Ian Holloway admitted "it was a bitter pill to swallow" after a controversial refereeing decision rocked his side in a 3-1 defeat against Ipswich at Portman Road.

The Foxes boss was left fuming after Patrick Kisnorbo was sent off for a dubious professional foul on Pablo Counago.

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Disbelief: Ian Holloway

Referee Phil Joslin brandished a red card and pointed to the penalty spot, allowing Alan Lee to make it 2-1.

Holloway said: "It wasn't a penalty. I thought it at the time and I've had it confirmed on a replay.

"It was outside the box and he played the ball. Patrick wasn't the last man so shouldn't have been sent off.

"The referee was overruled by his linesman and that's like me picking a team and then being overruled by my assistant.

"The whole incident was a complete kerfuffle but the referee thanked me for keeping my dignity afterwards - and that's not easy for someone like me."

Holloway added: "At 2-1 down with only 10 men, it was too much of a mountain to climb against a side like Ipswich.

"They passed the ball well and have got some very talented players there. Their third goal ripped the heart out of us."

The penalty flashpoint came at a key time, soon after the Foxes had made it 1-1.

Counago raced onto a pass from Danny Haynes before being challenged by Kisnorbo.

Not only was it questionable whether the defender committed the foul, it was also debatable if the incident happened inside the box.

The referee looked towards his assistant for guidance and duly pointed to the spot, allowing Lee to atone for his miss at Charlton on Saturday by blasting past goalkeeper Marton Fulop.

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton admitted he would have been "aggrieved" had the penalty decision gone against his team.

He said: "I would have felt hard done by. There might have been initial contact but the lad dropped the ball and the referee went with his linesman.

"Their player was very unlucky to concede a penalty and be sent off."

Reflecting on his side's success, Magilton added: "I was delighted with the win - it was a professional job and we showed lots of character.

"We started very brightly, passed the ball well and scored a fantastic goal.

"We looked a threat going forward and were solid at the back.

"Then we let Leicester back in the game and it was a sloppy goal to concede, although it was a fantastic finish from their lads"

Ipswich had taken an early lead through striker Counago.

Haynes burst to the right-hand by-line and pulled the ball back into the Spaniard's path and he took a touch before rifling high into the net.

Leicester equalised just before the half-hour mark through Iain Hume.

Stephen Clemence headed forward and the striker, under pressure from both Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis, lifted a sublime effort over the fingertips of goalkeeper Neil Alexander.

Ipswich's penalty gave them a foothold and then Jon Walters lashed in their third after the break, when David Wright's cross fell to him at the far post after being headed on by Counago.

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