It’s blazing Row after Gary has an off day
GARY ROWETT claimed Stoke should have had a late penalty and questioned referee Roger East’s decision to send him off in the closing stages of a 1-0 defeat to his former club Birmingham.
Che Adams struck a late winner for the visitors as Rowett was beaten by his former side for the first time since his departure as Blues boss in 2016.
However, the Potters should have had a chance to rescue a point after Adams kept Joe Allen’s goalbound effort out with his hands in the closing stages – with Rowett sent off by East for protesting the decision and being escorted down the tunnel by stewards.
Rowett said: “The player puts both hands out to the side. Okay he doesn’t move them towards the ball but when you’re two yards away, you’re purposely putting your hands out to block the ball.
“It hits his hands – it’s a blatant penalty no matter how many times you watch it.”
Rowett also questioned whether referees should have the power to dismiss managers, claiming East’s decision had the potential to incite the 28,160 crowd – Stoke’s highest attendance in the second tier for 56 years.
“If I’ve been abusive or sworn at the referee I’m honest enough to say that but I didn’t,” Rowett added.
“It’ll be my word against the referee and, of course, they’re going to take the referee’s side of it.
“What I think we’ve done is given the officials extra power to brandish a card at the manager in front of a whole stadium – for me that incites the game more than a manager trying to articulate he doesn’t agree.”
Birmingham went ahead nine minutes from time as Adams slid in at the back post to convert Lukas Jutkiewicz’s low cross.
Blues boss Garry Monk said he had not seen the penalty incident but added: “It was a performance full of heart, pure spirit, good organisation and when we got our moment we were clinical.
“We got what we feel we deserved. We hit the crossbar again today and that’s 12 times we’ve hit the woodwork this season.”