By Quayle
January 12 2005

Episode 5 in the amazing series of What The Papers Say? Today we look at the referee's performance against Bristol City on Monday, which looked to cost Rovers the game. The referee had three possible penalties to give, and non where given even when it looked certain on the Sky Monitor replay.

Newspaper : Liverpool Echo

Ref made us pay penalty, says Little

BRIAN LITTLE felt his side should have been awarded a penalty as they fought to cancel out Bristol City's lead.

With 11 minutes remaining a Gareth Roberts cross appeared to be handled by a Robins defender inside the penalty area, but referee Ray Oliver waved away Rovers' appeals.

The manager said: "I saw the handball incident on a replay. It genuinely could have been given. The referee said it did hit a hand, so it is disappointing we didn't get a penalty.

"There was very little between the sides. We were a bit unlucky not to get something out of it. I felt we deserved a draw, but we didn't get one because we didn't take one of our chances and they did.

"I can't be critical of the players because they all worked so hard.

"We have not lost many games at home. We are not looking for excuses.

"We matched them, but they took their chance and we didn't take any of ours. We just have to pick ourselves up again."

City's player-manager Brian Tinnion acknowledged Rovers had the lion's share of play.

He said: "They had a lot of pressure in the second half, but when you defend for your lives you get your just rewards. They had a lot of possession, but we had the better chances.

"Tranmere are a very good side. Perhaps they deserved something out of the game, but we have now taken six points off them, which is a great achievement.

"We didn't know Tranmere were going to play 3-5-2. We would have played that anyway. It's an attacking system."