Coyle: Clattenburg got it wrong

Owen Coyle
12 April 2012

Bolton manager Owen Coyle pointed the finger at referee Mark Clattenburg after his side were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham at White Hart Lane by a spectacular injury-time winner from Niko Kranjcar.

Rafael van der Vaart put Tottenham ahead from the spot and while Bolton equalised in the second half through on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge, it was the referee's refusal to award Bolton a penalty when Gary Cahill went down under a challenge from Steven Pienaar which incensed Coyle.

Referee Mark Clattenburg instead booked Cahill for diving and Coyle said: "It was a wonderful game, two teams going all out to win but we feel very disappointed to be leaving with absolutely nothing. It was a stonewall penalty. The lad's left his leg out, Gary's tried to step over him to get his shot away."

He added: "To compound that and to book Gary Cahill for simulating which, let's not beat about the bush, what he is saying is that Gary Cahill was cheating in trying to gain an advantage of a penalty, that's one thing that lad would never do.

"It was one each at the time. In the second half we were terrific and scored a good equaliser and at one each we were well placed to go on and win the game. But for that not to be given. There was also a challenge on Lee Chung-yong when he stepped on the park, we could be here all day."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp appeared to have some sympathy with Coyle and said: "From where I was sat I thought the ref had given a penalty. It might well have been a penalty. If it was a penalty we've got away with it."

Redknapp, however, was more interested in saluting Kranjcar after for his spectacular 25-yard winner. He revealed German club Werder Bremen had bid £8million for Kranjcar in the transfer window last month.

Spurs turned it down despite Kranjcar, who came on after 77 minutes for Wilson Palacios, struggling to break his way into Redknapp's team.

Redknapp said: "He didn't want to move and I didn't want to push him out. Last year he was one of the players of the season. He trains hard, he has a great attitude, he doesn't spit his dummy out when he is not in the side and you need good people. He trains every day of his life as if his life depends on it.

"It's hard for him. We've got Gareth Bale and Lennon and Luka Modric and it's difficult to guarantee him a regular place."

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