Sunderland<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe incident occurred when John Mensah brought down Jay Spearing, and Friend at first gave a free kick outside the area but after consulting with his linesman awarded the visitors the spot kick, which Dirk Kuyt duly put away.<\/p>\n
Bruce told Sky Sports: “For me that was the turning point of the game. We were well beaten after that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat for me is the turning point of the game. Up until then, 32 or 33 minutes in, there\u2019s nothing in it and it’s big decision again unfortunately for me that they\u2019ve got wrong.”<\/p>\n
The Sunderland manager admitted he went to see the officials at half-time to clarify the event but the former Wigan boss remained angry after deeming the linesman too far away to make a correct decision.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI went to the referee and the linesman at half time and I asked the question, the referee was 10 yards from the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe incident clearly took place outside the box, there\u2019s not a second challenge that tumbles him in the box. If you look at John Mensah, when he goes to ground he\u2019s a yard outside when he makes contact. It was a mistake from him, he\u2019s tried to rectify the mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce added: \u201cThe referee was 10 yards away, gives a free-kick and stands there and gives a free-kick for at least 20 seconds and then obviously the linesman\u2019s jumped in from 80 yards away and gives a decision which obviously is wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I\u2019m all for getting the decision right and if that decision had been right then you\u2019ve got no question to it, but to give the decision from 80 yards away when the referee is 10 away when the referee\u2019s first reaction was it was outside is not good.\u201d<\/p>\n
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