Sam Allardyce blames referee for Sunderland's loss at West Brom

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce was not happy with referee Martin Atkinson after his first game in charge of the Black Cats ended in a controiversial 1-0 defeat at West Brom.

Saido Berahino's 54th-minute goal was the difference between the teams but the Sunderland players were convinced the goal should have been disallowed.

Berahino tapped the ball into an empty net after he had challenged Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon for a Chris Brunt cross.

But Allardyce and his players thought Berahino jumped backwards into the goalkeeper and then handled the ball as it dropped.

Allardyce said: "We'll probably get a ticking off for surrounding the referee after the goal went in, but I could hardly blame them for that because the referee has made such a big error.

"If we get a double punishment, it'll be pretty difficult to take.

"It wasn't our fault we lost the game, I thought it was his fault on a decision he made not to give a free kick.

"It is clear that Berahino has jumped into Pantilimon, not even looking at the ball and, even after that, he has handballed it as it has come down, to his advantage, because he knocked it in front of him and scored.

"So, it is a clear foul from our point of view, in two areas. It is two mistakes in one, which is hugely disappointing.

"West Brom really created nothing, no clear-cut chances, which was a good basis for us to build on.

"We have had a point taken away from us which was not our fault. That is a hugely precious point, even at this early stage of the season. I think it is a huge mistake from the referee today."

Sunderland had a big penalty shout in the second-half when Stephane Sessegnon seemed to clumsily bring down Billy Jones in the box.

But Allardyce said: "I think he probably just got a touch on the ball but, if it was not a penalty, it was a corner. It wasn't a goal-kick and that is probably why I was complaining at the time.

"But the goal West Brom got is the big one for me, those penalty-type decisions can be difficult to give."

Asked if he could take positives from the display, Allardyce added: "More in the first-half than the second. In the second, we didn't do as well in possession.

"In the first-half we broke out well, we used counter-attacks, we had more chance than West Brom, albeit only half-chances. West Brom did not have a shot on target and hardly had a shot on target in the entire game.

"Defensively we were sound, so that is something to build on. From an attacking point of view, I would like to have seen us do a bit more in the second half."

The Black Cats remain in the bottom three, without a league win this season, and Allardyce appears to have a big job on his hands.

Their next game is the derby against fellow strugglers Newcastle next Sunday at the Stadium of Light and the manager hopes his new charges can continue their good recent record against the Magpies.

"The last five games they have played Newcastle they have won," said Allardyce.

"All they have to do is carry on from the five times before.

"They didn't look like conceding a goal today, which is a great platform for us to build on."

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