Bruce's fury over linesman's effort

Oct 22 2007 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

STEVE Bruce couldn't contain his anger that Manchester City's winner came after play was allowed to continue despite a 'blatant foul' on Fabrice Muamba.

He had tussled with Michael Johnson right under the nose of linesman Trevor Massey, and referee Mike Dean did nothing either.

Johnson was shielding the ball, Muamba stuck his leg round, then got his body turned in, and came away with it. Johnson responded by sliding in on Muamba as he tried to move clear.

He appeared to spear his foot on to the ball but also catch Muamba before he slipped over.

"It was a blatant foul," said the Blues manager. "I heard the contact from where I was. The linesman was only three yards away.

"We asked why he didn't give it, he argued that there was a foul by Muamba in the first place, which you can accept if he thinks that, I've seen them given, but he let it go.

"You can't then allow their lad to take Muamba down (to make up for it). He was caught. It wasn't six-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other, there were two separate incidents.

"The linesman's there to do his job. He can't make a mistake. The whole game hinged on it. He cost us big-style."

Bruce added: "Cheating - is that the right word? You just want it to be fair. You wonder whether it's the big club scenario with the big crowds, the pressure getting to people."