Ross County boss Owen Coyle fumes at penalty decision
Ross County manager Owen Coyle claimed their William Hill Scottish Cup exit at Kilmarnock left a bad taste after Lee Erwin's controversial winner from the penalty spot.
Erwin struck the only goal of the fourth-round clash in the 88th minute at Rugby Park after referee Bobby Madden dismissed Tim Chow for a push on Rory McKenzie in the box.
McKenzie had run on to a lofted ball and Chow stretched out a hand as he chased him but the award seemed soft as the Killie midfielder appeared to lose his footing.
Coyle said: 'I think Bobby Madden's one of our better referees but in all my years in football, that's never a penalty. And then to compound it by sending the lad off....
'That's the bit that's hard to take. We had six players missing so the players showed a lot of effort and quality at times, knowing we can get better as well.
'It wasn't a game for the purists but we showed a lot of good qualities against a Kilmarnock side who have been flying, and Kilmarnock got the bit of luck we have not had in the last month.
'It's disappointing that's what beat us. I can accept coming up against a real bit of quality, somebody bangs a couple of one-twos and curls one in the top corner, or volleys one in from 30 yards. You hold your hand up and say that's real quality and we all love the game and like to see that.
'But when it's taken out your hands by an uncontrollable, which that was, then it leaves a bad taste.'
After being beaten by Erwin's penalty, goalkeeper Aaron McCarey almost snatched a sensational equaliser with a header in the final seconds of stoppage time but he was denied by opposite number Jamie MacDonald before protesting that the ball had crossed the line.
Coyle said: 'I would love to say it was over the line but I'm not convinced. Big Azza was certainly willing it over but that showed a lot of spirit, down to 10 men and they are still prepared to push on.'
Killie stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches and manager Steve Clarke praised his side for grinding out the win.
'It wasn't a classic, it was a bit of a war of attrition,' he said. 'We played some decent stuff every now and then but it was a bit sporadic. But we'll take the win.
'We played all right but it's difficult to pick up where we left off in December.
'But a little bit of positivity keeps the good feeling about the club. The players have shown they can dig out a result since I came to the club and that was the case again.'