22 May 2023 , 08:12
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Gareth Taylor believes key decisions from the officials cost his team after Manchester City suffered late heartache in the Manchester derby.
City were minutes away from a 1-1 draw away at neighbours Manchester United, having controlled most of the second half after equalising through Filippa Angeldahl. But Lucia Garcia scored a dramatic injury-time winner for the hosts that means Taylor's side are set to miss out on Champions League qualification.
The visitors were also denied what looked a clear penalty when Bunny Shaw was clipped inside the box during the second half. But referee Rebecca Welch waved play on, a decision which City manager Taylor later labelled a "stonewall" penalty in his post-match interview.
"We did everything we could today," Taylor told Sky Sports. "We needed a little bit of good fortune and didn't get it at the end.
"We certainly didn't get it from the referee. It's a stonewall penalty on Bunny Shaw, I don't see how that is even in anyone's doubt whatsoever.
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"But again this referee seems to always come up with big decisions that go against us, we had it against Chelsea twice both home and away. I'm really surprised that between the officials we can't get that type of decision.
Ellie Roebuck was sent off during the Manchester derby"My initial thought on Ellie's (Roebuck) red card was that a red was harsh, particularly when there are covering defenders. Maybe it was the severity of the challenge, I need to see it again. That made it an uphill battle, but the appetite was there to win the game."
The defeat means City are out of the running for the top three, barring a mathematical miracle on the final day, with Arsenal three points ahead and with a goal difference 11 clear.
"We showed amazing spirit," he added. "We were the team with impetus. We had to tweak a few things after the red card but we wanted to still be positive and win the game.
"A draw would have been ok, a defeat is not good, but we needed to try and win the game. We had to go for it and I'm glad we did.
"This is a transition. It has to happen quickly, we've changed the average age of the squad. You're going to get bumps in the road and we've had some this season, but these players have proved tonight what they are about. They haven't got the rewards tonight but they will do in the future."