FA Cup fourth round: Neil Lennon slams 'rubbish' performance of referee Roger East

Bolton manager Neil Lennon described referee Roger East's performance in the 2-1 FA Cup fourth round replay defeat by Liverpool as "rubbish".

Lennon was unhappy with East's showing despite him favouring the Trotters in a debatable penalty decision when Zach Clough went down under minimal contact from Martin Skrtel.

But the Reds dug deep to equalise through Raheem Sterling before Philippe Coutinho scored the winner in added time.

Bolton played the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Neil Danns sending off but defended resiliently until their late collapse.

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"I thought he was rubbish. The first booking Dannsy gets isn't a booking - he doesn't make contact," said the Northern Irishman.

"I understand the sending-off but I thought he spoiled a very good game.

"I told him (Danns) at half-time he had to be careful. I don't think the referee had a choice with the second yellow. There were other things in the game I wasn't happy with."

Lennon felt the dismissal meant his side just ran out of energy at the end and that was when Liverpool took advantage.

"The pressure came with being a man down against a great team," he added. "With four minutes to go we had a lack of concentration.

"The second goal, I think, gets a deflection but it is a great hit."