Liverpool's Ngog in centre of diving storm

LONDON (Reuters) - Angry Birmingham City players and management accused Liverpool's David Ngog of cheating after the striker earned a controversial penalty for a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Monday.

Birmingham were leading 2-1 with 20 minutes remaining when Ngog went to ground after a challenge by Birmingham's Lee Carsley. Television replays showed no contact had been made.

"You are supposed to be teaching your kids an example and this is just an embarrassing case of cheating," Carsley was quoted as saying by British media.

"I was absolutely nowhere near him. It's a joke. I know I didn't touch him and I said to the referee to book me or send me off. That would have made me feel better."

The point left Birmingham in 15th place, just above the relegation zone, and manager Alex McLeish was also frustrated by referee Peter Walton's decision.

"Ngog dived. It was a terrific dive," McLeish said. "Sometimes there is a debate over a penalty when there is contact but there was none here.

"It was not even close to being a penalty."

TABLOID BACKLASH

The incident dominated Tuesday's back pages, with the best-selling tabloid Sun newspaper running the headline "Cheat." "King Con" declared the Mirror while the Mail opted for "Diving Pool."