LEEDS United manager Dennis Wise was left fuming as his team remained anchored to the foot of the Championship after a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City.
The Blues were grateful when a Richard Cresswell shot was cleared off the goalline by Stephen Clemence with Wise claiming it should have counted as a goal.
Wise said: "If we had got video evidence to call on we would be at least a point better off now but we have to work with what we have got.
"Clemence's standing foot was on the goalline, which means his kicking foot must have been behind the line.
"It was a goal, plain and simple."
In contrast Birmingham boss Steve Bruce insists his team must earn the right for promotion after the win propelled them to the top.
Bruce's men did not produce the performance or the goals that might have been expected against rock-bottom Leeds, but Nicklas Bendtner's 10th goal of the season - and his first of 2007 - ensured victory for City.
Bruce said: "What we have to guard against is this air that seems to have been about the place that we have a divine right to be top of the table and a divine right to go up because we were in the Premiership last year."
City now hold a one-point advantage over nearest promotion rivals West Brom and Derby but defeat left the Elland Road club without a win from their last four fixtures, and four points adrift of safety with the worst goal difference in the division.
* League I leaders Scunthorpe made a nervy start to their match at Crewe but ended the night 3-1 winners and nine points clear of nearest rivals Yeovil.
Luke Varney put Crewe ahead before a Billy Sharpe brace and a stunning Jermaine Beckford volley claimed victory.
New boss Roberto Martinez saw his Swansea side keep up their chances of making the top six with a 2-1 win over Rotherham.
