Steve Bruce: 'Wrong' Wiley decision cost Wigan the game against Liverpool
WIGAN manager Steve Bruce, who lost his unbeaten record against Rafael Benitez in the Premier League with Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Anfield, was left to bemoan the "wrong" refereeing decision which he claims cost his side the game.
Antonio Valencia was sent off for a challenge on Xabi Alonso - his second yellow card of the game - but had earlier been controversially booked for supposedly encroaching on a free-kick by the same Liverpool midfielder.
Bruce said: "I've known Alan Wiley from my Birmingham days. I invited him to Birmingham when I was manager to go over the rules. I've got the highest regard for him, but he got it wrong today. He totally and utterly got it wrong. He has cost us the game.
"That's my opinion and I think everybody in the ground will probably agree with me that it was harsh. And I think everybody in the ground will understand that it went in Liverpool's favour.
"There is no way on earth we would have been beaten if we had had 11 men on the pitch with 10 minutes remaining.
"I can't say what I want to say because it would be a field day for you and I'm not going to go and get myself fined by the FA. I just thought that all the little decisions in the second half went their (Liverpool) way."
Bruce added: "It's difficult enough coming to Anfield, but you need a little bit of fairness and strength.
"Two minutes after the sending off El Zhar tackled Mario Melchiot and nothing. This is the thing that annoys us to hell.
"We might as well make it a game of netball and there's no contact. That might please everybody in the Premier League!"
Bruce also believes that the referee could have been influenced by pressure from the Liverpool crowd.
He said: "When everyone in the ground appeals the easiest thing to do is put the whistle to your mouth. The first one is an absolute joke.
"Alonso is playing with Valencia, pretending to take the free-kick.
"Now Valencia hasn't encroached. He's gone sideways and backwards because it's his job to try and get something on the ball."
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steve bruce needs to stop whining! we`ve all had decisions go against us this season so far; Gerrards 100th against stoke which should have stood would leave us clear at the top now!
as for valencias sending off, the referee simply couldnt get the wigan wall back, it lasted 2 minutes with them refusing to budge and quite frankly he could have booked the entire wall! as for his challenge on Alonso, I would urge Bruce to take another look, if that isnt a dangerous lunge I dont know what is; as with Dosenas challenge in the first half (for which he received yellow) it could have been a straight red! come on Steve, great effort by your lads but you`ll get decisions which you will accept with a shrug thats football lad