NEIL Lennon, the Hibernian manager, last night hit out at referee Kevin Clancy and claimed his side was denied a "blatant" penalty in their Ladbrokes Premiership defeat to Rangers at Easter Road.
David Bates appeared to handle an Efe Ambrose cross into the visitors' box in the 75th minute shortly after coming on for Jamie Barjonas.
But Clancy failed to award the spot kick and Lennon admitted afterwards he was furious the match official failed to refer to his assistant Dougie Potter.
"The referee said he didn’t think it was a penalty," he said. "So he’s the only one in the ground. He looks to the linesman and linesman gives that decision.
"There's no doubt we’ve been done by that decision. You just want officials to get big calls right. It’s blatant. I’ve seen a few handballs, but that’s as close as it gets.
"It’s hand to ball. He’s even leaned into it. The linesman has seen it, so how he hasn’t given it I don’t know. Everyone on that side of the ground could see it and you could tell from the reaction."
Lennon, though, praised his Hibs team for their performance against Rangers and insisted they should have taken at least a point from the match.
"I thought we were sensational and didn’t get what we deserved," he said. "Sometimes that’s football. We hit post twice, worked the goalkeeper, missed good chances first half.
"I think the goalie (Ofir Marciano) should do better with the two goals, but we were outstanding. Our two wingers in second half unplayable.
"But you can’t keep putting in good balls and not scoring. We flashed umpteen balls across the box and they went begging. The standard of football outstanding. We deserved at least a point.
"They were battered. I've been involved with Celtic – and that was probably biggest battering I’ve given Rangers. They camped in for the second half and we controlled it. I’m delighted with the quality.
"We’re fourth. There is still a lot of football to go. They’ve got to play Celtic, we need to go and win in Aberdeen to stay on their coat tails. But six points is nothing at this stage of the season.
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