Town boss Paul Jewell slammed the officials’ failure to award his side a spotkick when Steven Caldwell felled Lee Martin inside the box minutes before Birmingham's last-gasp winner at St Andrew's. Referee Rob Lewis wasn’t well sighted but assistant Amy Fearn was better placed to see what looked a clear foul

Jewell said: “Although the referee didn’t have a very good view, the lineswoman, or whatever she's called, had a great view - it was a stonewall penalty and a sending off. You’ll have to ask her why she didn’t give it. It was a stonewall penalty.

“I asked the referee at the end but there was the wall of silence. But it’s happened, I don’t know why it’s happened because I don’t even think it was a debatable decision, it’s a stonewall penalty.”

Jewell is likely to face scrutiny regarding his criticism of the female official with some newspapers misquoting an early exchange during the post-match press conference.

A reporter asked the Town boss, "I think everyone to a man thought it was a penalty, what's your view?" with the Blues manager responding, "Unfortunately to every man, but not a woman."

Jewell was generally pleased with his team, aside from Nikola Zigic’s two goals: “We defended resolutely, they had a couple of opportunities but we had some good situations on the break that we didn’t make the most of - balls flying across the box.

“The players’ effort was unstinting but the two goals we gave away were bad goals, but in between that there were a lot of good points.”

He felt his team deserved a point and despite the setbacks need to remain resolute and results will then come: “We do need a break but we’ve got to keep going, no one’s going to give us anything for nothing.

“We’ve got to keep going ourselves. We should have had a penalty tonight, we should have got at least a point out of the game.

“It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself, you’ve just got to try and keep going, keep working hard and hope that something does turn your way. If we play like that in the coming games, we’ll win more than we lose.

“We’re in the situation we’re in because we haven’t defended well enough for long enough periods in games. Our concentration is why we’ve conceded a lot of goals late on. Zigic is a handful at 6ft 7, 6ft 8 but it’s just so disappointing that we’re conceding goals like we have tonight.”

Jewell praised his team’s spirit with the 569 travelling fans applauding them at the whistle: “The effort was there, the supporters clapped the players off at the end, it was a terrific following from them again.

“It’s a hard luck story and you don’t want to be doing hard luck stories. We’ve conceded in the 92nd or 93rd minute and it does become psychological sometimes.”

He says Jason Scotland and Grant Leadbitter should be fine despite picking up minor injuries: “Jason’s all right, we’ve got a couple of knocks. Grant got a knock, Jason got a kick when we were on the attack, so he had to come off but I think he’ll be OK.”

Jewell says his mind now moves on to the task of lifting his team for Saturday’s game against Blackpool: “It’s not easy but you have to, we’ve got another game on Saturday. There’s no point in moping about. We’ve got to take the positives out of the game tonight.”

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton, who says he didn’t see the penalty incident, was pleased that his side kept going and grabbed another late goal: “The late, late show again. If you score late in the game it shows we’ve got enough character and resilience in the team to want to protect this very good home record that we’ve got, and grateful and delighted for Nikola for both goals.”

Photo: Action Images

buryblue77 added 23:26 - Jan 11 Planetblue, I agree with you on the plyers that Keane let go, all of whom are good enough to be ahead of many players we currently have. Letting David Wright go and not securing a new RB was one of his biggest mistakes, not to mention the sale of Rhodes and even Stead. But Jewell has had plenty of time to rectify the mistakes and hasn't. Can't agree about Burley though, he hasn't been any good anywhere else after leaving us and has probably been out of the game too long. He may be Ipswich through and through but I don't think he could get the current crop of players gelled anymore than Jewell can.

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Notts_tractor added 23:27 - Jan 11 Planetblue: another one is Marton Fulop. Why was he allowed to leave on a free? We paid nearly a million for him (well Keane did), and then all of a sudden he's rubbish and can go for nothing. Funny how a Premier League team think he's a highly adequate no 2 to an England goalkeeper, but not good enough for us. Meanwhile we arse around with loanees and the very average ALB.

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brittaniaman added 23:33 - Jan 11 Pay off Ellington like the other 2 and then there will be more room on the bench for Hyam etc. Then Jewellio clear your desk !!!!!!!!! You are a nice guy but not a manager for here. We are now worse off than this time last year ?????? GUNNY was a nice guy but he wasnt a manager either which was proved. !!!!!
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Tractamatt added 23:36 - Jan 11 I'm not a jewell fan by any means but some how I feel there are those among us who would call for his head regardless. These are the facts,we went to Birmingham with a side that is depleted by injury and illness and came so close to a positive result. The only reason we did'nt win 2-1 is because of a referee who because of his position is'nt answerable for his mistakes so can cost teams like ours points with a kind of immunity.Tonight people is not a night to be Jewell bashing,it's not a time to be slagging team members of but other than 2 stupidly soft goals tonight we have to get behind our club and think of the positives ,even Smith had a good game according to the radio.We ain't relegated yet but bashing the team on nights like tonight just is'nt helping anybody.COYB

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buryblue77 added 23:36 - Jan 11 Notts, Fulop just needed a bit of coaching on his handling of crosses, he's omly what, 27/28? Young by keeper age standards and with the right training could have been one of the better keepers in this league. The other question regarding transfers is the income from the Wickham sale, if we really are a club with Premier League aspirations then surely ALL of the £8m should have been allocated for transfer fees.

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buryblue77 added 23:42 - Jan 11 Brittania, Gunny was a very nice guy, especially when he miskicked that backpass!
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brittaniaman added 23:44 - Jan 11 I am sure Marcus Evans would not keep a manager on in his other buisness who was not performing well I am sure they would be out like a shot ?????????
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since1990 added 23:44 - Jan 11 we're struggling in the league and have to remain positive. We seem to attract bad luck at the moment because of where we are. Confidence is low but we must have faith. We'll be okay, I'm sure but it's gonna be tough. Jewell will keep us up.
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casanovacrow added 23:44 - Jan 11 Its past saving, just think even if we win the next two or so as soon as we loose another his head will be back on the block. Once you have gone this far into the mire you cant get back, name me another manager who has?
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Garv added 00:01 - Jan 12 Hughton you coward! Agree with NottsTractor that its ironic that the moment that could/would have swung the game in the favour of Ipswich Town, the Birmingham City manager took his eye off the game. I'm hearing Dalglish did the same tonight. I'm f*cking sick of it!! I don't respect any manager these days. Bloody joke. Be fecking honest! No integrity. Don't think women have the bottle to officiate in a man's game, if they did why aren't they refereeing games? If they can't referee games, don't let them run the line for them. The linesman's job is just as important as the referee's. Jewell said the fourth official said to him at the time that it probably was a penalty but the referee couldn't see it, so, as Jewell said, WHY THE BLOODY HELL CAN'T THE FOURTH OFFICIAL GIVE IT? Sort out this game of ours! Can take positives from this game yet again as we did from Leicester and Reading, all tough places to go, but again useless officiating and poor concentration in the final minutes has cost us. So frustrating.

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Martus added 00:07 - Jan 12 BBC Sport's report says Jewell said: "Although the referee didn't have a good view, the lineswoman, or whatever she's called, had a great view." Think he might get in to trouble for that . . . . . . .
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MickMillsTash added 00:40 - Jan 12 Went to the game I think we deserved a draw on balance of play. The effort the players put in was excellent, the confidence grew during the game and we should have had a penalty. However we did not really create many goal scoring opportunities and Birmingham got round the back of us quite a few times. They created the 3 best chances of the second half. Jet drifted through the whole game- surely he can give more and it was just amazing that Ellington came on- just too slow. Edwards, Martin and Cresswell were good. Leadbitter and Drury eventually got to grips with the midfield and Scotland never stopped working. This is not a team though- there were few instances of cohesion especially in the first half and any set peice caused mass panic. Feel sorry for Jewell on the night but for his work over the year -I would have put in a taxi back home to Yorkshire Great support from Ipswich fans- not often we can say that - but good noise and good a number there Come on Town

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bobble added 00:43 - Jan 12 the present team couldn't beat a doormat, when does the super 14 start ? i need some real sport to take my mind off the slow decline of a once proud football team. maybe i should just go surfing and let the waves smash the indifference and frustration out of my head.
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Keaneish added 00:57 - Jan 12 I put it plain and simple...our defense has been poor for nearly half a decade. If you can't sort it out, which is laughable, then f**k off - what do we pay our money for? We've watched the same problem for years and hear the same s**t week in week out. Give a monkies about a pen. Clean sheet and you never lose. Basics.
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megamoth added 01:05 - Jan 12 Tractamatt - agree with you but at the end of the day results count and performances or excuses about injuries dont. If we loose on Saturday then its 12 defeats in 15 and its surely curtains for Jewell. What other team - professional or otherwise - would put up with such utter cr@p? Not only that but the defence urgently needs strengthening. What kind of player would join a team on such a desperate run of form, threatened with relegation and working under a manager who could be sacked at any moment...

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Michael11 added 01:36 - Jan 12 Stick to netball you dog!! cost us at least 1 point but probably 3 tonight! Unacceptable
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GTRKing added 01:39 - Jan 12 I know Jewell Is a nice guy & all but he aint performing & if I did this badly on FIFA 12 career mode & football manger I would be sacked & there lots of good young players out there Like Shane Lawrey LB/CB from west ham he young like 20ish (Found out from FM 2012) & will wanna play for the team & I think St Ledger is a joke He never wanted to Sign Bec Manager on Verge of being sacked & at bottom of Championship table He will go to leeds I Suspect & We need to start an academy & Train young players 8-16 year olds & enter team in reserve league & keep hold of our talent Carson Cresswell Ect & have a mix of old/young players & get a few winger & start playing good football. I had backed the manager but 1st Transfer window he ****** up & 2nd transfer window nearly 2nd week in & only one player what a joke. Jewell u need to go & get a manger in that knows how to do the job.

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itfchorry added 02:12 - Jan 12 You are a joke Jewell - You looked so stupid having a row with the officials at the end of the Game. Please leave and take Clegg with you
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TheDalaiFarmer added 02:12 - Jan 12 GTRKing thinks that computer games are real life!
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airliner added 02:23 - Jan 12 sick of the same old same old. hes going to be sacked today i am sure.
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bigolconnor added 06:34 - Jan 12 Yet again it's loss or lose not loose. Haven't we done it enough now to know how to spell it.
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WarkyWonderLand added 06:41 - Jan 12 It's derby all over again. We were warned. Admit you got it wrong again Evans and clegg and do the right thing before its too late.
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piersmorganisatool added 06:49 - Jan 12 as each day passes league 1 football feels ever closer, i'm no longer confident Championship football is a realistic goal for us right now, Premiership football is nothing more than a pipe dream now that maybe my sons or future Grandchildren will enjoy at ITFC? Reluctant but i'm starting to feel Mr Evans maybe a british Gordon Geko?
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Lesta_Tractor added 06:50 - Jan 12 whether the decision was right or wrong the fact that the assistant was female is irrelevant. Jewell's comments were out of order and I cant wait until he leaves our club.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:47 - Jan 12 ground hog day....just do whatever it takes to get in some quality defenders, although persuading someone to join us permanently right now for obvious reasons is gonna be hard, must be some quality cb's not getting games in the premiership, who want to play regular? would get loads of practice in our team.
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