Inverness Caley Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson says referee 'bottled' penalty decision against Dundee United
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Duncan Ferguson claimed the referee "bottled" the decision on whether to give Inverness Caledonian Thistle a penalty towards the end of their defeat against Dundee United.
ICT's players were adamant they should have had a spot kick after going a goal behind when the ball appeared to hit Liam Grimshaw's arm inside his own penalty area.
Referee Alan Muir did not agree, waving play on, and Dundee United would go on to claim all three points.
Inverness were understandably unhappy at the end of the game, and Ferguson did not hold back with his thoughts on the incident.
"The big decision doesn't go for us," Ferguson said.
"It isn't going for us at the moment – I think it's to do with me to be honest, we're not getting a break.
"I spoke to the referee and he just said he didn't see it as a penalty. I saw it as a penalty, and I think all the players' reactions around the ball tells you that it was a penalty.
"His linesman could have helped him, but the referee had a good view of it, and in my opinion he has bottled the decision.
"It's not an easy job being a referee, but I think the big decision on the night was that one, and we feel as if it was a penalty that should have given us a chance to get an equaliser.
“I just don’t seem to be getting the breaks. I have had two red cards in four or five games. Sometimes I can be animated on the touchline, but they weren’t red cards, and again tonight we didn’t get a penalty.
“I could look back at many matches where we have had penalties which haven’t been given to us.
“From where I was standing, it was arm to the ball. We all thought it was a penalty. The referee is a lot closer than us, he’s got a clear view of the situation and decides it’s not a penalty.
“That’s his opinion, but I think the reaction of everyone around about the ball. Their manager and staff know it’s a penalty, everybody know it was a penalty, bar the people that counted. It is what it is."
Aside from the penalty incident, it was Tony Watt who made the difference with his winning goal.
That came after a less than stellar performance from both teams, where Inverness had created more chances than their opposition.
As a result, Ferguson felt like his side would have been good value for at least a point against the side who have gone back to the top of the Championship.
"I think we played really well in the first half and were the better team," Ferguson stressed.
"We created a couple of decent chances and they never created much.
"Second half, we weren't as good. They pushed us harder and restricted our space, but I think our goalie only makes one save.
"I'm really proud of the players' performance, and I think they absolutely deserved a point out of the game."
