CUMNOCK boss John McKeown was left fuming after his side were sunk by a dodgy penalty decision on Saturday.

McKeown took his side to table topping Kirkintilloch Rob Roy on Saturday but they fell to a 1-0 defeat referee Stephen Brown awarded the home side a controversial spot kick.

The livid Townhead gaffer told the Chronicle this week: "I'm baffled.

"I'm still livid about it a few days later.

"The Rob Roy boy who went to down even admitted that he fell over his own feet outside of the box.

"None of the Rob Roy players even claimed for it, that's the first sign that it was never a penalty."

McKeown was also unhappy with the way ref Brown acted towards him. He added: "He was very arrogant the way he was talking to us.

"This is the same referee who sent off Scott Anson and James Lundie against Beith earlier in the season.

"He's cost us six points this season and that could be the difference between Premier Division and First Division football.

"It's not fair to my boys, who have defended for their lives and defended well to come back in top the dressing room at full time with nothing to show for it."

McKeown added: "I don't want to sound like I'm putting all of the blame on the ref. We didn't start the first half well at all. We played very poorly. In the second half we were creating more chances and playing further up the pitch.

"But then they get the penalty and score it and that is a sore one to take. I'm completely baffled."

McKeown also reckons his side should have been awarded a penalty of their own. He said: "Del Esplin gets hit in the box and referee doesn't it. But from where I was it was a penalty."

McKeown's side now head in to the winter break sitting fourth in the league.

He has arranged a friendly fixture against an under 20 Ayr United side at Townhead Park next Wednesday.