Harvey Barnes: I didn't dive, even the Wigan players thought it was a penalty!
Harvey Barnes has denied diving and revealed that several Wigan Athletic players told him he deserved a penalty during Saturday's 1-0 defeat to the Latics.
Barnes was booked for simulation five minutes after the break when he went down in the box when the scores were level at nil-nil.
He looked shocked by referee Jeremy Simpson's decision to show him a yellow card and afterwards, Barnes told the Express & Star that even the opposition players were surprised a spot-kick wasn't given.
"I'm sure the ref will watch it back," he said. "It wasn't a dive. I thought it was a penalty, a lot of their players were saying it was a penalty.
"It's one of those days, if that decision goes our way and we score we'll probably go on to win it but obviously it wasn't meant to be."
Albion suffered their first league defeat in eight games on Saturday against Paul Cook's men who remain unbeaten at home.
"It was a frustrating game," said Barnes. "There were a lot of fouls, a lot of niggly stuff going on which probably slowed down the tempo of the game which benefited them more than us.
"We found it tough to get going. We had spells where we picked up and created chances but it was tough going for most of it.
"They set up well against us, they knew how we were going to play and denied us a lot.
"In the first half both teams were getting frustrated and you saw that. The time of the goal killed us, it was tough for us after that."
Albion don't have long to dwell on defeat though, because they host Frank Lampard's Derby County at The Hawthorns on Wednesday.
"The main thing will be recovery and setting up to bounce back on Wednesday, hopefully we'll pick up three points there, " said Barnes.
"That game's done now. We're obviously disappointed but we've got to move on with the games coming up. It's about getting back to a positive mindset for Wednesday.
"We take each game as it comes but of course we want to pick up points wherever we go, home or away. At home we've been very good, we need to start picking up points away."
There has been a lot of speculation Barnes could be recalled by Leicester in January, but the 20-year-old is expecting to see out his season-long loan.
"That's something that will be discussed closer to the time," he said. "At the minute I'm enjoying my football here.
"In the contract I'm here for the season and that's what I'm expecting at the minute. I'm sure the two clubs will discuss it closer to the time if needs be."
