Cardiff 2-1 Coventry: Rookie ref leaves Chris Coleman cross

Coventry boss Chris Coleman was so angry about a decision by rookie referee Roger East he refused to speak after the game.

"You could say he's a little upset and we felt that in the circumstances it was best he said nothing," said assistant manager Steve King.

Coleman had seen what looked a perfectly good 55thminute equaliser from Freddy Eastwood first allowed and then ruled out.

Eastwood appeared to have cancelled out Jay Bothroyd's opener for Cardiff when he ended a counter-attack by firing past Tom Heaton.

East, only on the referee's list for two seasons and officiating in his third Championship game, initially signalled a goal.

But Cardiff players claimed Coventry skipper Scott Dann had handled the ball earlier in the move and after speaking to a linesman, East changed his mind and gave the Bluebirds a free-kick.

King added: "We spoke to the referee after the game and he admitted he saw the linesman flag earlier in the move, but thought it was for offside and overruled it.

"The linesman then put his flag down. That's what disappointed us. He should have kept it raised."

Coventry's misery contrasted sharply with the joy of former Wolves striker Bothroyd, who had waited 11 months to break his goal drought in the league.

Ross McCormack made sure of the points with an 85th-minute penalty after Joe Ledley was upended by Isaac Osbourne.

Dann pulled one back for Coventry in the final minute but that was not enough to prevent Coleman's temporary vow of silence.

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