Watford boss Malky Mackay believes Norwich City skipper Grant Holt was lucky to remain on the pitch during last night's enthralling 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.

The striker, who was also celebrating his 30th birthday yesterday, was booked shortly before half time for persistent fouling. He then continued to be penalised, which, on another day, Mackay believes would have resulted in him seeing red.

Mackay said: "I think the referee will be disappointed with his actions towards Grant Holt tonight [Tuesday]. I think that when Grant Holt is booked because of persistent fouling and then has five other fouls after that in the game, I think the referee, looking back on that.... usually you get two fouls after you get a caution, you have two fouls left in you and that’s the way it's been since I played, in the last 15 years.”

"That's certainly something I'll be clipping and sending to the referee's assessor and I think the referee will be disappointed when he sees that," Mackay added.

Following an outstanding season last year, which saw the robust centre forward score 30 goals and win Norwich’s Player of the Season award, Holt has certainly made a name for himself in this year's Championship, culminating in his nomination for the coveted Championship Player of the Season award.

Acknowledging the Carlisle-born forward's ability, Mackay stated: "I think that there are certain centre forwards, that part of there game is to go about and be bustling and to dominate opposition's defenders, and I think Grant's one of them.

"I think he's good at it, and he's a good player, but I think tonight the referee gave the fouls and it's remarkable that he committed so many after he was booked, and there was no action taken by the referee."

The 39-year-old was particularly disappointed with the referee's actions towards Holt's contribution to Norwich's second goal.

He said: "I think he fouled John Eustace for their second goal and I think that if those fouls don't stop the game, don't deaden the game, it changes the game."

Referee Anthony Taylor played a good advantage for Watford's second goal, however, Mackay was also not satisfied with the official’s handling of the situation.

Mackay said: "He plays the advantage because he doesn't physically pull him down, although he has his hands round his ankles at one point, but to not go back and book him is incredible as well.

"If he takes him down at that point, he books him, so why does he not book him when he actually skips away from him? At that point he's had his arms all over him, hauled him down and because our guy's managed to get back and stand on his feet [he didn’t book the defender]? What it did was it slowed that move down.

“Whether the goal went in or not, it slowed the move down and it allowed players to get back. How he doesn't go back and book him there shows great inconsistency."