Birmingham City were left aggrieved when appeals for penalties were waved away in stoppage time of their 2-2 draw with Derby County on Good Friday.

Blues , who head to Rotherham United on Easter Monday - where they can confirm their Championship status for another year - took the lead twice against the play-off chasing Rams at St Andrew’s thanks to goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Michael Morrison.

They were pegged back on both occasions, courtesy of Martyn Waghorn and Richard Keogh, in a frantic first half.

As the game drew to a close, though, Blues might’ve had a spot-kick on more than one occasion awarded to them had referee Simon Hooper spotted the handballing in the visiting penalty area.

Morrison, who certainly has had a taste for scoring this season, saw his shot cannon back off opposing defender Keogh - pictures suggested the ball came off the Irishman’s arm - and veteran left-back Ashley Cole was also in the line of fire.

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Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Cole, though, has since actually admitted to keeping the ball away from his goal with his arm.

“A great assist for Keogh’s goal, but really late on - pretty well at 90 minutes - you got your head in the way of the ball,” the interviewer for Derby’s official TV channel said to Cole post-match.

“The arm, actually,” was the smiling ex-England international’s simple reply.

Cole’s admission will prove to be little consolation for all concerned with Blues, who might’ve secured safety with three matches remaining - that, despite their nine-point deduction.

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