QPR boss Mark Warburton was left “frustrated beyond belief” after a controversial penalty his helped former side Brentford to a 3-1 win in Monday night’s west London derby.
With the scores level at 1-1 on the hour-mark, Brentford were awarded a spot-kick when referee Andy Woolmer believed Josh Scowen had fouled winger Bryan Mbeumo, despite the Frenchman clearly initiating the contact with a dive.
Said Benrahma converted emphatically to put the Bees ahead, before forward Ollie Watkins sealed a third straight win with the final kick of the game.
“It was lost on a big decision, let’s be really clear,” Warburton said. “We got the equaliser, we were in the ascendancy and I was really confident at that point. The decision changes everything.
“You have to be really, really sure. If you’re going to make that decision in a London derby, or any game, a call like that, make sure you’re 100 per cent. I’ll let you describe it because I might get a fine if I describe it appropriately.”
Victory would have seen Rangers move into an automatic promotion spot, but instead they slip to eighth, just two points ahead of their local rivals, who look to have found form after an indifferent start.
“I’m frustrated beyond belief to see a game changed in that manner over that type of call,” Warburton added. “I think 100 percent, VAR overturns it, 100 percent in my humble opinion, but we haven’t got that, so we can’t refer to it.
“We’ll have calls that go our way, all managers will have good and bad days, but the fact is that that’s a big call. It changed a derby; we would go second tonight winning the game or stay in the top six with a point. It’s a big decision for us.”
