Aston Villa 1, Birmingham City 0: Alex McLeish hits out at penalty decision
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish vented his anger at referee Martin Atkinson over the penalty award which kept Aston Villa in contention for a Champions League spot.
James Milner converted an 83rd-minute spot-kick to settle the second City derby at Villa Park and moved the home side level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League.
But McLeish was adamant that his defender Roger Johnson had won the ball in the challenge on Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor which led to the penalty award.
And he echoed the feelings of Stoke boss Tony Pulis that bigger teams have more decisions going in their favour.
McLeish said: "It was a bad mistake by the referee. It's a shame he gets such a big decision wrong in such a big game.
"I am not questioning his fitness but Agbonlahor, with his pace, is difficult to keep up with.
"The referee was so far behind and he surmised it was a penalty. I have defended referees a lot but I can't defend that one. He got it wrong.
"Roger Johnson has made a name for himself with that kind of tackle. He got the ball cleanly.
"Tony Pulis has said he feels bigger teams get more decisions throughout the course of the season and today was evidence of that."
McLeish took consolation on the performance of his players in contrast to the 5-1 defeat in the last Villa Park derby two years ago.
He said: "You tend to think the world is against you when you get a decision like the penalty after playing so well.
"But I am proud of the players. They were magnificent today. Villa edged the first half, but Friedel made three or four great saves."
