Derry boss Higgins rues late penalty decision

Derry City manager Ruairi Higgins was left to rue a penalty decision that went against his side in their scoreless draw with Bohemians at the Brandywell.

A game for few clear-cut chances will be remembered most for the 90th minute decision by referee Damien MacGraith who turned down Derry appeal for a penalty after what appeared to be a double handball by Bohemians defender Krystian Nowak.

With the clock ticking over into injury time, Nowak connected with a cross into Bohemians box with his right hand, sending the ball into the ground before it bounced up to hit his out-stretched left hand.

Derry players and supporters appealed vociferously towards MacGraith who appeared to be well placed but all he waved play-on.

That decision proved to be crucial as the game ended without a game and afterwards Higgins was unable to hide his frustration at the call.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "For the life of me I'll never know how we didn’t get it.

"We’re in a tricky moment at the minute and that’s when you rely on decisions to be right. You’re not asking for special treatment.

"That’s a huge decision, it’s extremely late in the game, we’re on top in that period and it’s a real key moment in the game that’s gone against us."

To rub salt into his wounds, Higgins was booked for appealing for the penalty.

"I got a yellow card for appealing for a penalty that we should have got," he said.

"Football’s an emotional game, of course you’re going to appeal. I didn’t use any [bad] language whatsoever, I appealed for a handball that we should have got and I get a yellow card.

"Sometimes people have to understand that this in an emotional game."

Despite the outcome, Higgins was impressed with the character shown by his side who came into the game, having