Tony Mowbray and Sean McLoughlin were outraged when referee Adam Herczeg pointed to the spot after a challenge on Jayson Molumby in the area.

Replays make it hard to see how much contact there was on the WBA man, though the challenge gave the referee a decision to make.

"He's put the challenge on the edge of the area. He's behind the player. He has made no contact with the player at all," Dean said on Soccer Saturday.

"Player has gone in the air. He has just thrown himself to the floor. It's just not a penalty.

"It's just 100 per cent a dive. There's just no contact whatsoever."

Fellow ex-official Keith Hackett believed the video replays were inconclusive as to whether it should have been a penalty or indeed Molumby threw himself to the ground.

"I have looked several times at this footage," Hackett said.

"I have also taken into account the position of the referee.

"I cannot, based on this footage, take a view that the referee has correctly awarded a penalty kick.

"If there is a view that this player 'dived' then there must be other footage available.

"Well, it certainly is insufficient evidence to come to the view held by Mike Dean."