CHERRIES boss Gary O’Neil believed his side should have had two penalties during their defeat to Brighton at the Amex. Estupinan was at the centre of the controversy for the second incident, Ryan Christie’s cross clearly striking the Ecuadorian’s hand, which was tucked into his side. Asked for his thoughts on the penalty shouts,
Gary O’Neil said: “I think they’re both penalties. Let’s go second one first. I’ll point you in the direction of Jefferson Lerma at Newcastle. I’ve seen both images back, they’re exactly the same. Ryan Christie’s cross, it’s going directly to Dango in the middle of the goal and hits (Estupinan) on the arm, which is in the exact same place, maybe slightly further away from his body than Jefferson Lerma’s was at Newcastle. I don’t want to complain, I’m just going to give you my thoughts on it. The one in the first half I think is a foul. I think I’ve heard coming together as a term to describe it, but Dango gets in front of the defender and then there is contact. I thought it was a foul. It is what it is.”
O’Neil also believed there to be a foul in the build up to Brighton’s winner, with debutant Matias Vina seemingly hauled down inside the box off the ball.
Gary O Neil added: “On Vina, Lewis Dunk throws Vina to the floor by his arm.”
Cherries’ head coach then went onto insist that it was down to his side to improve, despite his thoughts on the decisions made by match official Craig Pawson.
Gary O’Neil said: “We need to make sure we improve, make sure we score goals ourselves. But that’s what I thought of the three incidents.”
