‘We deserved at least a draw’, says frustrated Hodgson

England manager Roy Hodgson gestures in frustration on the touchline. Photo credit: Owen Humphreys/PA wire

Tuesday, September 11, 2012
10:44 PM

England boss Roy Hodgson was critical of the referee’s performance after he saw Chelsea ace Frank Lampard score an 86th minute penalty to claim a draw in their World Cup qualifier at home to Ukraine.

But after the spot kick captain Steve Gerrard was sent off for the first time in his international career for a second bookable offence, while Turkish official Cuneyt Cakir controversially ruled out a Jermain Defoe first half strike for a dubious foul.

Hodgson was visably frustrated on the Wembley sidelines and afterwards he told ITV1: “Some of the yellow cards were a bit hard to take and if Steven Gerrard committed two fouls in the game I’d be surprised.

“We went a goal down to a wonder goal but I was really pleased with the way we kept tidy, kept trying and didn’t resort to any hopeful long balls.

“We kept playing through and creating chances and we were rewarded in the end by getting the equaliser and we might even have got a winner.

“All credit to Ukraine who played well enough. At least I’m happy we came out with something because had we lost the game it would have been very harsh on us, because we certainly deserved at least a draw.”