Megson felt his side dominated against Sporting

Bolton manager Gary Megson has blasted the Israeli officials who took charge of the last-16 Uefa Cup first leg with Sporting, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Megson, who had a running battle with fourth official Eitan Tabrizi, was angry that referee Alon Yefet did not send off Lisbon keeper Rui Patricio.

"The rules are if you handle outside the box you get sent off. Patricio got both hands on the ball," said Megson.

"As for the fourth official, he is a doughnut. He did not know the rules."

Megson was left bemused after Tabrizi tried to stop him shouting instructions from his technical area.

It would have been better if the officials knew the rules on the pitch rather than relating to chuffing dug-outs Gary Megson

"You are allowed to stand up and try to work on behalf of your football club," explained Megson. "You don't have to sit down like a dummy all the time.

"He didn't know the rules, so we got him a copy, but it still didn't seem to matter.

"It would have been better if they knew the rules on the pitch, though, rather than relating to chuffing dug-outs because the lad handled the ball with both hands outside the box.

"He shouldn't have been on the pitch but then I don't think the game was particularly well officiated.

"I don't normally come out and criticise but I think he (the referee) fell for one or two things."

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The Patricio incident occurred when the goalkeeper came rushing out of his area to challenge Heidar Helguson for a 50-50 ball.

Bolton took the lead through Gavin McCann and hit the bar with a Helguson header but were pegged back by Simon Vukcevic's stunning equaliser for Lisbon.

And Megson, whose side travel to Portugal for the return leg on 13 March, felt his side deserved better than a draw.

"I thought we dominated the game," added Megson. "They didn't create many chances, although their goal was an exceptional strike.

"The fact we didn't win was disappointing but the way we performed certainly wasn't disappointing, especially against a great team."

Megson admitted that his focus would be on improving the Trotters' fortunes in the Premier League rather than trying to progress to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup.

"The Uefa Cup certainly isn't a distraction from the Premier League but the Premier League is always our main priority," he stated.

"Although we will be focusing on the second leg against Lisbon, the game against Wigan on 16 March is more important."