‘Bizarre’ spot-kick angers Bruce

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was left bemused and angry about a controversial penalty in a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

Referee Kevin Friend initially awarded a free-kick when John Mensah felled Jay Spearing but then pointed to the spot after consulting his linesman.

Bruce insisted the foul was a yard out of the box and said: “I find it bizarre a linesman can make that big decision.

“That was the turning point of the game and after that it turned into a horror show with people getting injured.”

As well as suffering their fifth defeat in six games, leaving them ninth in the Premier League, Bruce lost three players through injury in the match and had Mensah sent off late on for a foul on Luis Suarez.

Spearing is brought down by Mensah and wins the penalty

Sulley Muntari (calf) and Kieran Richardson (hamstring) both limped off before Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring with the hotly-contested 34th-minute penalty.

Defenders Anton Ferdinand and Phil Bardsley might also have left the field had their three substitutions not already been used.

“Unfortunately we’ve got two players who have gone down again,” Bruce added to BBC Sport.

“It was a horrible afternoon. In the end we’re playing with seven to eight players. It’s part of football and we have to take some positives and go again.”

Despite Suarez sealing the three points with a stunning second-half strike from a tight angle, the crucial breakthrough that infuriated Bruce so much was the spot-kick awarded 11 minutes before the interval.

Mensah’s poor chest control allowed Spearing to burst through and referee Friend blew the whistle for a foul on the edge of the box.

However, while Bruce did not dispute the free-kick, the Sunderland manager was furious that the initial free-kick was changed to a penalty after a conversation with the linesman.

“The referee was 10 yards away and he called a free-kick. He stands there for at least 20 seconds and then the linesman gives the decision from 80 yards. Maybe it’s technology we’re looking for,” said Bruce.

Despite the contentious decisions, Bruce admitted: “We were well and truly beaten by a better team. I have no complaints and on the day we were disappointing.”

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish was delighted with his team’s performance at the Stadium of Light, particularly on the back of their disappointing midweek exit in the Europa Cup.

“Overall, it was a great effort from our players – we deserved the victory,” the 60-year-old Scot said.

“It is great credit to the players and their determination having worked so hard on Thursday and coming away with nothing.

“There was a dispute over whether the foul occurred inside or outside the box. From where we are, I couldn’t tell you, but if we have got a fortuitous one, then we have got a fortuitous decision.”