Hughes - It was never a pen

Hughes: Unhappy



Man City boss Mark Hughes was unhappy with the penalty decision which cost his side against Spurs.
Robbie Keane scored from the spot with four minutes to go after Frazier Campbell and Micah Richards had tangled in the box.
The goal gave Spurs a 2-1 win after City had got back into the game in the second period with Valeri Bojinov equalising Jermaine Defoe's first-half strike.
The defeat extinguished City's hopes of qualifying for Europe and Hughes was upset after the game.
Asked if he felt a bit hard done by, Hughes told Sky Sports: "Very much so - obviously we are very disappointed with the award of the penalty.
"It's just a ball played into the box and whether or not the referee's angle made him think that possibly the lad was going to get a connection on the ball or whatever - but he was actually 15 yards away from the ball as it went into Shay Given's hands.
Really costly


"(It should have) never been a penalty and it's a really costly decision by the referee because obviously that's really hurt us in regard to Europe - it's not possible for us - but I thought second-half we were excellent, first-half we didn't really get into the game or get a foothold into it, we were a little bit tentative.
"Second-half we had a real go and we really forced the issue, got back on level terms and really I felt we looked the more likely side to go on and win the game.
"I thought the fans were great again, really drove us on, and it is a real disappointment because we didn't deserve that today."
He was full of praise for goal-scorer Bojinov, who has struggled with injury all season.
"He's been frustrated at times and he's had to work really hard to get back but we're all delighted for him because he's a great guy and he's waited a long time to get his first Premiership goal and it was a great goal.
"It was great finish as well, so I just thought the introduction of Benjani and Bojinov really got us going and give us some energy further up the field and we responded to it."