Chris Kirkland believes referee Alan Wiley should admit that he made a mistake in sending off Antonio Valencia.
Goalkeeper calls for Wiley apology
Chris Kirkland believes referee Alan Wiley should admit that he made a mistake in sending off Antonio Valencia.
Wigan were leading 2-1 at Anfield when Valencia was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.
He was cautioned for encroaching at a free-kick and given his marching orders moments later for a mistimed challenge on Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool went on to win 3-2 and Kirkland feels Wiley got it wrong and should hold his hands up.
"Hopefully the ref will come out and admit he has made a mistake," Kirkland told the
Manchester Evening News.
"That's all you want, and if he does that fair enough. But we feel very hard done by.
"The first yellow was not a booking, Antonio did nothing wrong. The lad touched the ball and Antonio charged it down.
"But because of the commotion with all the Liverpool players, when all their hands went up, the ref's bottled the decision.
"They have a tough job, referees, but it was as clear as daylight that he shouldn't have been booked.
"It's difficult enough with 11 men at Anfield, never mind ten, and that was a big turning point."
Zaki praise
Egyptian striker Amr Zaki had put Wigan in control with two goals, including an acrobatic second.
He has been in fine form all season and Kirkland believes he can continue to torment Premier League defences for the rest of the campaign.
"That's what he does," said the goalkeeper. "Give him a chance and at the minute everything's going in for him. Hopefully he can continue to do that and we can tighten up at the back and keep a few clean sheets.
"His second goal was a great finish. He's top scorer in the league now and hopefully he can carry on, and if we can sort other things out we will be OK.
"He's different because all he has on his mind is scoring goals, and if he does that we will win more games than we lose.
"Amr is a physical handful and I am sure defenders hate playing against him."
