Disallowed O'Connor goal 'was harsh', say Blues

Jan 7 2008 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM City felt aggrieved that Garry O'Connor's 'goal' was denied by the linesman's flag.

Had it been allowed to stand, Blues would have been 2-1 up in the 24th minute, five minutes after O'Connor's equaliser.

"We were saying that it [the cross] came off their defender, so he couldn't have been offside," said Stephen Kelly.

"It's ifs and buts. It wasn't allowed and we should have been more positive and taken it to a team like Huddersfield."

The state of the playing surface was not ideal but Kelly said Huddersfield had to cope with it too.

"Both teams worked hard and it wasn't easy with the conditions, the wind and the pitch.

"We both adapted to it but the fact is that we should have done much, much better. We're a Premier League side and should have shown that, regardless."