Cotterill can only watch in despair

BRISTOL CITY manager Steve Cotterill headed home last night saddled with a burning sense of injustice at the way his Championship side were denied the chance of knocking Premier League opposition out of the Cup. Cotterill had complained long and loud to referee Graham Scott for failing to blow for time before James Morrison’s late equaliser.

‘He has to buy himself a new watch,’ joked West Bromwich coach Tony Pulis of Cotterill, but secretly he will know his side came close to an exit.

City, with Luke Freeman pulling all the strings, clawed their way back from Saido Berahino’s opener and led 2-1 in added time thanks to goals from Jonathan Kodjia and substitute Kieran Agard.

Up went the board. Four minutes. Yet Morrison’s strike was timed at just over five. Cue the wrath of Cotterill, who spoke to Scott after the match.

‘Time was up. It is game over,’ insisted Cotterill. ‘I can reveal what I said but you can’t print it! We deserved to win the game and the problem is you don’t get two opportunities against Premier League sides. You need the referee to be right.’ WEST BROM (4-4-2): Foster 6; Chester 5 (Dawson, 63, 6), McAuley 7, Evans 6, Brunt 6.5; Sessegnon 7, Morrison 7, Fletcher 7.5, McClean 6.5 (McManaman, 63, 5); Rondon 6.5, Lambert 5 (Berahino, 63, 7). Subs (not used): Myhill, Yacob, Gardner, Gamboa. Booked: Morrison. BRISTOL CITY (3-4-1-2): Fielding 6 (O’Leary, 46, 6); Ayling 6.5, Flint 6.5, Baker 7; Little 6.5, Smith 6, Pack 6.5, Bryan 6; Freeman 8; Kodjia 7 (Burns, 82), Wilbraham 6.5 (Agard, 83). SuBS (NOT uSEd): Williams, Wagstaff, Reid. Booked: Baker, Kodjia. REfEREE: Graham Scott, 7.