Bruce said: "It was a soft penalty to say the least, and would we have got it at the Kop end? That is extremely doubtful. Would we have got a penalty like that? I don't think so.
"And the situation was not helped by the lad's antics. He spent most of the match throwing himself about. That is why we were infuriated. I have seen it on TV and it was not even 50-50, and I have not a clue what it was given for.
"It was not even debatable. All you want is for referees in such situations to show strength and be fair. Coming to Anfield you need decisions like that like a hole in the head."