Bolton boss harbours no bad feelings towards Rob Styles

When Gary Megson’s described Rob Styles’ decision to point to the spot after Jlloyd Samuel’s impressive challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo as “hugely embarrassing”, there were few people who blamed him.

Yes, a big deal has been made of the FA’s Respect campaign but if you see your team’s chances of taking a priceless point at Old Trafford robbed by a ridiculously refereeing decision, nobody expects you to stay calm.

So it is somewhat surprising that the Bolton boss has today told his club’s website that after speaking to Rob Styles, he has forgiven him for his error, even going as far as to say that he would welcome the blundering official back to the Reebok:

“It’s gone now and we can’t do anything about it. It was an error and everybody knew it was an error, but these things do have a tendency to even themselves out.

“I think he’s a good referee and he made a mistake and everybody does that. He’d be welcome here or indeed if we got him away from home again.

“I don’t think any of the Premier League referees should be demoted for making mistakes. I don’t see what it would do at all and we have to be a bit more forward looking than that.”