Angry Hughton blasts penalty decision

Norwich manager Chris Hughton has hit out at referee Mark Clattenburg’s decision to award QPR a first-half penalty on Saturday.

Hughton believes the decision had a significant impact on the 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.

New signing Sebastien Bassong was adjudged to have brought down Djibril Cisse in the box, although replays show the tackle was fair.

John Ruddy saved the resulting spot-kick, taken by Cisse, but Bobby Zamora powered the rebound into the back of the net.

Hughton made his feelings known to Clattenburg at the final whistle, with the former Newcastle manager firmly believing that his side would have emerged victorious if it wasn’t for the penalty.

“I thought it was a soft penalty to start with and apart from that when it was taken Bobby Zamora is at least, at least, three yards in the box when the penalty was struck.” Hughton told Evening News 24.

“He was also on the referee’s side. That makes it a little bit more difficult to take.

“It doesn’t matter how many players were actually encroaching. I might have the rules wrong, but if at least one of them is one of their players I presume it has to be re-taken.

“They will see it a little different but it is quite clear to see that Zamora, who was the goalscorer, was at least three yards in the box.”

Simeon Jackson opened the scoring for Norwich after just 10 minutes, heading a well-taken Robert Snodgrass volley into the QPR net, with the London club unable to build upon Zamora leveller.

“I thought we had a very good reaction from last week, which is what you want. I expected that,“ Hughton said.

“Whether it meant we were going to play really well, you never know but we played really well. It is a game we should have won.

“We were the side that threatened more and I thought it was a really soft penalty that we conceded. It does happen, but it was a real disappointment after scoring so early and having a real good momentum to our game.

“I felt it was a little bit unjust on two counts but we showed great character from that and we were the better team. We just needed to be more clinical in that final third.”