Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy defends referee over controversial penalty

Mick McCarthy has said that referee Keith Shroud was right to award his Ipswich Town side a penalty in Friday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at Portman Road.

David Cotterill fired the visitors into a 1-0 lead midway through the first half, but Shroud awarded Town a controversial decision on 32 minutes when Ainsley Maitland-Niles was fouled by Jonathan Spector, after the ball had gone.

Brett Pitman converted from 12 yards, with City boss Gary Rowett then slamming the official over his judgement, but McCarthy says that he got it right.

"I did think it was a strange decision when I first saw it, but looking at it after the game I think the referee has got it right," he told Sky Sports News.

"Harsh as it may seem to [Birmingham], it was the momentum that caused the foul.

"If it had been outside the box or on the halfway line, the foul would have been given. It shouldn't be any different in the area."

The point lifted Ipswich up to fourth in the Championship table.