That’s small consolation to the Dolphins, who felt as though they were robbed of a win by “Stealers.’’

The lone officiating error was the initial ruling of a touchdown for Ben Roethlisberger, former NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira said yesterday.

After that, Pereira said, the crew handled the situation correctly, despite debate about the subsequent replay review and explanation of the final ruling.

The ruling proved crucial in Miami’s 23-22 loss.

The Dolphins (3-3) had a right to be angry, because the erroneous TD call by the head linesman may have cost them the game. Miami linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis emerged from an end zone pile with the ball fumbled by Roethlisberger with 2:30 left.

A replay review determined Roethlisberger’s touchdown was instead a fumble, but because the video didn’t provide clear evidence as to which team recovered, Pittsburgh kept the ball and kicked the winning field goal on the next play.

Because the touchdown was overturned, only the video review could determine which team recovered the fumble, said Pereira. Any ruling on the field as to which team recovered was irrelevant, because the play is considered over when a touchdown signal is given, and the officials don’t continue to officiate.

Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington argued the linesman shouldn’t have been so quick to signal a touchdown. That way the officials on the field would have determined who recovered the ball.

“If it looked like the ball was loose, play it out,’’ Pennington said. “Don’t throw your hands up in the air, especially in the last two stinking minutes of the game.’’

Childress said he called the league about tight end Visanthe Shiancoe’s nullified score late in the second quarter Sunday night. The replay review determined Shiancoe didn’t have proper possession of the ball as he landed after his diving catch.

But Childress said NFL vice president of officiating Carl Johnson acknowledged the mistake and said he was “disappointed that the call was reversed.’’