Glenn Murray admitted that former teammate Joe Worrall was fortunate not to concede a penalty during Nottingham Forest's draw with Derby County.
Forest and Derby took a point each after a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
The fixture, however, was full of controversial moments. Just a few minutes before Tom Lawrence's opening goal for the hosts, Craig Forsyth was criticised for what appeared to be a stamp on Philip Zinckernagel.
And in the second half, Derby had loud claims for a penalty waved away by referee Tim Robinson when Worrall seemed to handle the ball inside the penalty area.
And whilst Murray felt the home side should have been awarded a spot kick, the former Forest striker admitted it was also "clever" thinking by Worrall.
Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, he said at full-time: "I think it's deliberate from him, I can't really defend him.
"I actually think he's got away with it and it's quite clever play.
"He's aware that there is two Derby players queuing up to score a goal behind, so he's tried to be cute in hand-balling it and got away with it."
Brennan Johnson scored a late equaliser on the 82nd minute to salvage a first point of the season for Nottingham Forest and ease pressure on Chris Hughton.
The 20-year-old midfielder pulled away from a Derby defender before pouncing on a deep cross from Gaetan Bong to squeeze a volley past Rams shot-stopper Kelle Roos.
