Owen Coyle has slammed Bobby Madden over the penalty decision that cost Ross County a Scottish Cup replay.
With 88 minutes on the clock at Rugby Park the controversial referee pointed to the penalty spot claiming that Tim Chow had pushed Rory McKenzie to the deck.
Chow was red carded before Lee Erwin converted from the penalty spot to end County’s interest in the competition.
Speaking to STV Coyle said: “I think Bobby Madden’s one of our better referees but in all my years in football, that’s never a penalty. And then to compound it by sending the lad off.
“That’s the bit that’s hard to take. We had six players missing so the players showed a lot of effort and quality at times, knowing we can get better as well.
“It’s disappointing that’s what beat us. I can accept coming up against a real bit of quality, somebody bangs a couple of one-twos and curls one in the top corner, or volleys one in from 30 yards.
“You hold your hand up and say that’s real quality and we all love the game and like to see that but when it’s taken out your hands by an uncontrollable, which that was, then it leaves a bad taste.”
Madden will be back in action quickly, taking charge of Wednesday’s Sevco v Aberdeen match, his second consecutive fixture involving the Ibrox club.
It is highly unusual for a referee to be given consecutive matches involving the same club, strangely Willie Collum and Craig Thomson have no fixtures in midweek.
John Beaton will be on duty at Firhill on Tuesday when Celtic visit Partick Thistle with the two clubs drawn together again today in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.