McLeish calls for goal-line technology

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has hit out at the decision not to introduce goal-line technology after seeing a valid goal denied in their FA Cup exit at Portsmouth.

The Blues boss was fuming after assistant referee Adam Watts failed to spot Liam Ridgewell's header had crossed the line during the 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park on Saturday.

The incident, with 10 minutes of the game to go, happened virtually at the same time as football's rule-makers, the International Football Association Board, voted against the idea of using technology.

And McLeish is adamant football should follow the likes of cricket, tennis and rugby in bringing in the cameras.

He said: "They bring it in at the top level in other sports and I don't see why it can't be used in football, especially with what's at stake. There was a semi-final at stake in the FA Cup, one of the most coveted tournaments in the world, and it denied us a lifeline to possibly still be in the cup.

"There must be stringent rules for this level for referees to be top match-fit and obviously the eyesight is a huge factor.

"But sometimes it happens that quickly that you can see why assistants make mistakes, which is why they should bring in technology.

"You don't have to disrupt the game throughout the 90 minutes and make it boring for the crowd, but at key moments like that I think they're actually doing the officials a disservice.

"Although it's not responsible for us going out of the cup, it certainly would have given us a lifeline."

McLeish admitted his side had paid for a poor second-half display, as they missed out on the chance of their first FA Cup semi-final in 35 years.

Two Frederic Piquionne goals gave cash-strapped Pompey victory and a psychological edge ahead of the sides' Premier League meeting on the south coast tomorrow.

The Blues boss said: "We completely bossed the first-half and looked assured and played with authority. I didn't feel we started the second half the way we did the first. I don't know if we got a little bit complacent but passes went astray and nothing was retained up front.

"It kept coming back and at some stage you are going to concede a goal if that keeps happening."