Cardiff City head coach Neil Warnock has told ITV News that he thought the referee for their loss against Birmingham City was very poor after he failed to give them a penalty.

Going into this game, more focus was being put on Steve Cotterill has he took to the touchline for the first time as head coach of Birmingham after he replaced Harry Redknapp as manager. And he would be the one going home happy after an early goal from Che Adams proved to be the decisive factor, leading them to beat the Sky Bet Championship leaders.

However Warnock was not happy after the match as he believed his side should have had a penalty in the second half. Joe Bennett was taken down in the box but despite that, the referee elected not to give the spot kick and the game continued. Warnock, not being one to mince his words, made his thoughts clear in the post-match press conference.

He said: “For the first half hour they came out of the traps.”

“This is what we expected with a new manager. I thought one or two people, who should have known better, were sluggish. In the last few minutes before half-time we got into the game.”

“In the second half I thought we could have won the game. I am disappointed we didn’t have a penalty. Joe Bennett had his head kicked off in the box. Apparently the referee said if it had occurred any other part of the pitch he would have given a foul.”

“I don’t understand that and I thought the referee was very poor. We deserved better official-wise but from Birmingham’s point of view they were delighted.”