Tim Clancy: Bigger club got more of the decisions

Tim Clancy said that St Patrick's Athletic had been hard done by after their Europa Conference League third round qualifier exit to CSKA Sofia on Thursday.

The Saints took the minimum advantage into the second leg at Tallaght Stadium, but a goal in each half was enough to see the Bulgarian side through as they prevailed 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.

It was a game played on a warm August evening and the temperature simmered throughout, with 10 yellow cards shown during the game, as well as reds after full-time.

But it was the awarding of the penalty after a handball by Harry Brockbank which most frustrated Pat's manager Clancy.

"Looking back at the penalty decision, it hits their player's hand first before it goes on to Harry's hand," he said at the post-match press conference.

"Over the two legs, with two different sets of officials, I feel we certainly weren't getting any of the decisions.

"That's a huge decision tonight to give a free-kick in front of the dugout when we're on attack. And then to give the penalty. It's hits Garcez's hand first, he heads it onto his own hand, then Harry's hand.

"Moments like that are huge for the likes of us to go through against a hugely established club in European football, and it's a sore one."

St Pat's 0-2 CSKA Sofia (1-2 on agg) - Disaster for St Pat's. Harry Brockbank is ruled to have handled in the box, Ivan Turitsov duly rolls home the penalty https://t.co/dAnLwqdW0w #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/suMap9ArFm

The Saints were far from overawed by the visitors, whose league is ranked some 16 places higher than the SSE Airtricity League in the UEFA coefficient rankings.

Clancy's side had chances in both halves, with Adam O'Reilly forcing CSKA keeper Gustavo Busatto into two saves before