Sunday 30 November 2014 17:02, UK
Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce had no complaints after seeing his side slump to a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham in a game which was unusually decided on a penalty awarded by the fourth official.
Pearce was full of admiration for the officials in making the controversial decision in the 84th minute of the match at St Andrew's.
Birmingham had appeared to be heading for a 1-0 win following a fine first-half goal from Dave Cotterill, but the game exploded into life in the final 10 minutes.
Britt Assombalonga equalised from a close-range header in the 84th minute for his 13th goal of the season, but three minutes later the former Peterborough player pushed the ball over the bar with his arm following a corner.
Referee Geoff Eltringham awarded another corner despite protests from the Birmingham players. It was only when the fourth official, Nigel Smith, intervened that he changed his mind to award a spot-kick and send off Assombalonga.
In all the excitement Paul Caddis, who had missed his previous penalty at St Andrew's, coolly slotted away the match-winning penalty.
Pearce said: "I had mixed views at the time. It was well done to the officials for eventually getting the right decision. It was a big call.
"At the time, along with Birmingham's manager, Gary Rowett, I thought it was a handball. I was surprised the referee nor the linesperson, who was nearest, didn't pick it up at the time.
"Credit the fourth official. He saw it and put his neck on the block and made the decision on behalf of the three officials.
"The only question I asked the referee after the game was how he couldn't see the incident while the fourth official, who was five yards behind me, and myself both saw it as a handball.
"We will not go away and hide behind a disgruntled result. The officials got the decision correct and I will not bemoan that fact. Well done to them.
We will not go away and hide behind a disgruntled result. The officials got the decision correct and I will not bemoan that fact. Well done to them.
"We feel on the run of play we deserved at least to get a point out of the game but I cannot take any credit away from Birmingham's win.
"I am not going to moan about the decision. We have got to move on. We have been beaten and that hurts and it would be easy for the players and myself to hide behind the penalty decision."
Birmingham boss Rowett, who watched his side extend their unbeaten record to five games since his recent appointment, had no doubts about the penalty.
He said: "It looked a clear handball although the referee didn't give a penalty decision until the fourth official became involved.
"I think their bench in all fairness was disappointed that the fourth official gave the decision from so far away.
"What you cannot argue with is that it was the right decision. If the shoe had been on the other foot I would have been a little disappointed.
"All the officials showed some bravery to give that decision so late in the game but having seen it on the replay it was a clear handball."
Rowett was pleased with the performance of his team in collecting another win.
He added: "We were very good in the first half but Nottingham Forest are always a threat and we had work hard as a team in preventing them getting space.
"I thought we showed some good quality going forward with (Andrew) Shinnie getting into some good areas. The second half was a worry because Forest came out and put us under some pressure.
"We rode our luck and got a huge slice of good fortune at the end. I wouldn't say on the balance of play we deserved to win but we deserved something for our efforts.
"We are now on a good run and the players are showing a bit more confidence and showed a new level of performance and a reaction that suggests they want to keep it going."
