Wigan boss Martinez angry over referee's 'scandalous' decision

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez believes his club's "small voice" cost them after their 3-3 draw with Blackburn.

Morten Gamst Pedersen's controversial corner led to Junior Hoilett's goal to make it 2-2 before 10-man Rovers earned a point with a last-gasp penalty.

"I don't want to sound bitter. But I'm sure if that had happened at Anfield they would have been talking about it for three weeks," Martinez said.

"I'm sure today after 20 minutes it will all be forgotten."

The controversial 59th-minute incident was the main talking point in an incident-packed derby between two struggling teams.

Pedersen appeared to take a corner to himself that led to Hoilett scoring to make it 2-2, but the referee ruled Yakubu had played the ball first.

Marriner had assumed Yakubu had touched the ball before heading to the penalty area, but replays showed the former Everton striker had run past the ball without making any contact.

Pedersen then charged towards the area before drilling the ball across the six-yard area for Hoilett to score.

The Spaniard added: "It was a scandalous decision. It's ridiculous.

"If I am going to be honest about it I am going to get into trouble and it is going to cost me a lot of money. But it seems too easy to get these decisions wrong.

"We are a small voice in the competition and we played like a real giant in the competition in the manner in which we coped with the pressure of getting a result.

"The decision is hard to take and hard to explain. It didn't seem to me that he [Yakubu] touched the ball, so how he [the referee] could allow that is really hurtful.

"The players don't know why it was allowed. It's my fault because I ask the players not to complain or get in trouble with dissent or dive - and it's costing us points."

Yakubu had fired Rovers ahead with just 68 seconds gone, but Jordi Gomez and Gary Caldwell had the home side ahead before the break.

David Dunn was then shown a second yellow card for Rovers before Hoilett's controversial strike.

"For me, Yakubu didn't touch the ball and it's a very easy decision to make," added Martinez, whose Wigan side remain bottom.

"It's ridiculous. The hurt was the decision to allow the goal - not our performance."

Yakubu admitted afterwards that he had not touched the ball to Pedersen.

"I don't think I touched it, but that's football," he said.

Albert Crusat restored Wigan's lead but there was late drama when Rovers keeper Paul Robinson - up for a corner - won a penalty for a foul by David Jones, and in the ninth minute of stoppage time, Yakubu earned a point for the visitors.

Blackburn manager Steve Kean said Marriner's decision to allow the goal was a slice of luck Rovers deserved.

"I was surprised to see Morten running along the line with the ball," said Kean.

"If it shouldn't have stood then we've had a bit of luck. Having said that, there were other controversial moments. Wigan's first goal looked offside.

"There's been decisions this season that haven't gone our way."