Rodney McAree angered by officials as penalty decision costs Coleraine dear

Coleraine boss Rodney McAree blasted referee Steven Gregg after his award of a late penalty gave Cliftonville a lifeline in Tuesday night's Europa League play-off semi-final.
Coleraine boss Rodney McAreeColeraine boss Rodney McAree
Coleraine boss Rodney McAree

With the game in the sixth minute of stoppage time Gregg pointed to the spot after a tangle of legs between Josh Carson and Ryan Curran sent both players to the deck.

The Coleraine players and officials were left dumbfounded by the call which looked soft.

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Curran scored the spot kick to send the game into extra time, before the Reds kicked on and scored two more to set up a showdown with Glentoran in Saturday's final.

McAree though was fuming with the decision afterwards, which he felt cost his side a place in Europe and a potential £200,000 windfall.

"We find ourselves 3-1 up and then we lose the game in extra time, it all hinges on a decision," he said.

"Not that long ago in the semi final of the Irish Cup went against us and killed us, and I genuinely feel that there is another decision that's went against us tonight.

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"It has given Cliftonville a lifeline. They had a lot of pressure and we had to soak a lot of it up, but I thought we had done that.

"I thought it was a free kick out when it happened at the time.

"Josh Carson is goal side of it, there's a tangle of legs, but that's caused by the Cliftonville player. It looks like a poor decision from our point of view."

Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin though felt the officials got the decision right.

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"I think it was a penalty, I know Coleraine disagree with that, but I wouldn't expect them to agree with it with it coming so late on," he said.

"I think the player has gone in with the tackle and missed the ball completely, it's a foul to be honest."