Football - Liverpool FC: Birmingham’s Lee Carsley accuses Liverpool striker David Ngog of ‘cheating’ to win penalty

Nov 10 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Football - Liverpool FC: UNHAPPY Lee Carsley blasted “cheating” David Ngog for the penalty that denied Birmingham City victory at Anfield – and said the striker should be “embarrassed” by his actions.

Referee Peter Walton awarded the spot-kick after Carsley launched into a sliding tackle on the Liverpool forward inside the area.

Television replays showed there was no contact between the pair with Ngog falling to the turf after hurdling the challenge of the former Everton midfielder.

Steven Gerrard scored from the penalty to earn Liverpool a 2-2 draw and leave Carsley fuming.

“I was absolutely nowhere near him,” said Carsley. “It’s a joke. I knew I didn’t touch him and I said to the referee to book me or send me off, it would have made me feel better.

“I’m sure he (Ngog) has got a family, well if I went home having done that I’d be embarrassed.

“You’re supposed to be teaching your kids an example and that is just an embarrassing case of cheating.

“But the lad’s taken a chance and got his team a point so I’m sure they’ll be patting him on the back.”

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admitted it wasn’t a penalty, a view that was shared by Birmingham counterpart Alex McLeish.

“There’s no debate, it wasn’t a penalty,” said the Scot. “It’s a clear dive by Ngog, he has won his team a penalty. It has happened for centuries and we have to take it on the chin.

“The referee didn’t get it right and if he looks at it I am sure he’ll agree it wasn’t a penalty. I haven’t spoken to the ref but I’m sure he is an honest enough guy and will see that Ngog dived.

“Lee Carsley never touched him. Lee dived in and when you dive in you are always at risk, but there was no contact. It was not even close to being a penalty.

“You need luck in this game at times and that plays a part of it, and unfortunately that decision went against us. They say they even up over the season but it seems to work more for the big teams, but we’ll see.”