Robins deny cheating claim

Crystal Palace and Bristol City have become embroiled in a bitter war of words after Palace were denied a clear goal by a refereeing error in their Coca-Cola Championship clash at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

In a farcical situation that resembled last season’s “phantom goal” in Reading’s clash with Watford, Palace striker Freddie Sears flicked past Dean Gerken into the bottom corner, with the ball bouncing straight back out of the net after hitting the stanchion.

However, after lengthy discussions with his assistant referee, referee Rob Shoebridge inexplicably ruled that the ball had not gone in and awarded a goal kick to City, who eventually went on to win 1-0.

Palace boss Neil Warnock was furious after the incident and thought Bristol City’s players, should have told the referee the ball went in the net.

He said after the game: “I thought Gary Johnson and his players could have shown more sportsmanship because they knew it was a goal, like everyone else. But I’m 60 years old and maybe I expect too much.”

Warnock’s chairman Simon Jordan also waded in and was much more forthcoming with his assessment, accusing City players of cheating.

“What troubles me was that the Bristol City players saw what was going on and by saying nothing, that’s cheating,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I don’t know how the referee did not see it. The players knew it was a goal, their manager knew it was a goal and they could have done something about it - let us go up the other end and score or something.

“There is a responsibility for doing the right thing.”

However, Bristol City chief executive Colin Sexstone vehemently refuted claims of cheating and poured scorn on Palace’s comments.

“We have come to expect this from Warnock and Jordan. They are shouting and bawling without knowing the facts,” he said. “As far as I understand it, the goal was disallowed for an infringement.”

Robins boss Gary Johnson admitted that a goal should have been awarded but also insisted that he and his team were blameless in the incident.

“It was a goal of course, but I don’t see what I could have done about it at the time. I had my own team to think about because we weren’t playing well in the first half,” he said.

“Neil didn’t want to shake my hand and that’s up to him. I can’t say I was surprised after what had happened, but it’s one of those things.”