The Royals were left to rue a late shout for a penalty that was not given against Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Anfield on Saturday.

With Steve Coppell's men piling forward in search of an equaliser, Dave Kitson turned and shot goalward, and the ball unquestionably made contact with Gerrard's arm.

The letter of the law says that handball can only be penalised when it is adjudged to be deliberate, and referee Andre Marriner ruled in Liverpool's favour in front of the Kop.

Our players ran to Marriner and appealed for a spot kick, but their protests were waved away and dismissed.

Liam Rosenior said, "I heard a slap, and that doesn't happen unless it hits the hand. I've seen it again, and it's a stonewall penalty. You say it time and time again about penalties in front of the Kop.

"There were lots of decisions, especially down that end, and I think the ref will be disappointed if he looks at it.

"It happens so often, it's an intimidating place. He feels he has to be 100% to give it. Everyone can see it's a pen, everyone knows it's a pen, we just have to move on."

Ivar Ingimarsson added, "I thought it was a pen. From where I was, I could see that Gerrard has jumped and made his arms big outside his body, it's a penalty.

"He's not using his arms to protect his body, he's thrown himself at it, made himself big and the ball hits his arms outside his body, it's a pen. It's tough for the ref, but for me it's a pen."

Steve Coppell said, "It was never going to happen. The refs are under such verbal pressure, and I suppose by talking about it I'm adding to that. But you feel if you don't say anything, you'll suffer in the future.

"There's subtle verbal pressure applied by the big teams, and that can intimidate officials."

Coach Kevin Dillon added, "I've never been so frustrated in my football career. For me, the ref crumbled. He got shouted at at half time and he crumbled, you could see it.

"Alan Wiley, one of the best in Europe, was on the bench and I think he was flabbergasted. Every 50/50 went to them.

"The stats show now that we committed 20-odd fouls and them only four, it's not right.

"It wasn't football. Sometimes it makes me wish I wasn't involved, it was that bad.

"For the penalty, you could hear the slap but the lino never budged."

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