MADRID, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova showed his irritation with referee Parados Romero after Barca hung on to take a valuable 5-4 win away to Deportivo la Coruna.
In a thrilling match Barca raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Jordi Alba, Leo Messi and Christian Tello, but refeee Romero gifted Deportivo a penalty that got them back into the game.
A flood of goals saw the game go to 4-3 before Romero then unjustly sent off Barca defender Javier Mascherano to leave Vilanova's side with a player less on the pitch, before Messi scored his hat-trick and an own goal from Alba gave Deportivo hope of snatching a point.
Barca held on to remain top of the table, but Vilanova was not happy with what has been widely condemned as an inept display from the referee.
"In the four years I have worked with the first team, I have never seen us have to play for so long with 10 men on the pitch," said the Barca coach, who added it was the second time this season Barca had ended a match with a player less on the pitch.
"I think that we had control of the game and played as well as I can remember for a long time," said Vilanova, who added his side could have made it 4-0 before the controversial penalty, which came following a dive from Deportivo striker Riki outside of the area.
"The best thing is that Leo Messi ran his heart out after having played with his national team (Argentina). His team-mates all did the same and that is the best thing," he continued.
Vilanova also had words for Barca keeper, Victor Valdes, who was at fault for Deportivo's second and third goals, failing to hold a tame shot and then moving the wrong way to allow Pizzi's free kick to beat him just after half-time.
"He has a really high level of ability and he has been playing so well for so long now, that there is no doubt over him," said Vilanova about his keeper.
Barca's next game seen them play Glasgow Celtic in the Champions League in the Camp Nou Stadium on Tuesday night.
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