Steve McClaren slammed the penalty decision that has put England's European Championship qualifying campaign on the brink.
Coach refuses to blame players or plastic pitch
Steve McClaren slammed the penalty decision against Wayne Rooney in Moscow that has put England's European Championship qualifying campaign on the brink.
Rooney was adjudged to have pulled back Konstatin Zurianov but TV replays suggested any offence was committed outside the box.
That decision gave Russia the chance of a 69th minute equaliser and they went on to win the game 2-1.
McClaren told
Sky Sports: "We had it. It was in our grasp and we've ended up losing it. I've just seen the penalty again and it's an absolute disgrace - it's outside the box.
"The linesman didn't give it. It was the referee from quite a distance and things like that turn games."
Cruising
England had appeared to be cruising to the victory which would have ensured qualification, but now they must hope Russia slip up in Israel next month to have any chance of reaching the finals.
"We looked so comfortable," McClaren said. "Our attitude was excellent, our commitment. We were defending well, we'd got the goal and they were running out of ideas.
"And that just turned the game. It was a mad four minutes after that and unfortunately we conceded a second."
But the coach was determined not to criticise his players.
"I can't fault the players for the way they endeavoured to work, the commitment, the blocks we had to put in, the headers," he added. "We knew we had to defend well coming here and we did it. We looked a threat, we created chances and we have ended up losing a game that really after 70 minutes I never thought we'd lose.
"The pitch had nothing to do with it. You could see that, it was lively, yes, they had more preparation but we are not making that an excuse. There are no excuses. I cannot fault the players. I have just said in there, this is international football and if you go to sleep, decisions go against you and you end up losing games you are comfortable in and you should win."
Israel
As for England's chances of playing in Austria and Switzerland next summer, McClaren added: "It puts us in a bad position, it is out of our hands - we have got to rely on Israel getting a result against Russia next month and we will take it from there. We are not giving up. The spirit in the dressing room - you've seen it tonight - is still there. We will keep going to the end.
"Israel is a tough place to go, they've got a good home record and the pressure is on Russia - they have to go and win. They have still got a lot of work to do until this group is decided."
