O’Neill frustrated by Gayle’s ‘dive’

MARTIN O’NEILL refused to criticise referee Lee Mason after Dwight Gayle denied Nottingham Forest victory at West Brom.

The striker went down easily under pressure from Alexander Milosevic and Yohan Benalouane to earn a penalty two minutes from time and allow Jay Rodriguez to rescue a 2-2 draw. Gayle could face a retrospective ban for simulation if the FA investigate the incident.

O’Neill said: “I spoke to the referee, he said it if it was a mistake it was an honest one and I accept that.

“It certainly looked like a dive, I’ve seen it back twice from a rather long lens angle and not on TV but everyone I have spoken to says it was a dive. In this day and age, it’s very difficult for a referee, harder than it’s ever been. It would have been great to have won the game, away from home against a side looking for automatic promotion.”

Meanwhile, new Oldham manager Paul Scholes was relieved to get his career in the dugout up and running with a win.

The ex-Manchester United star saw his Oldham team win 4-1 over League Two strugglers Yeovil in his first match in charge at Boundary Park. It required two goals in the final two minutes from Mohamed Mouche and Christopher Missilou to ease the nerves after Bevis Mugabi had reduced the deficit.

“It’s a relief and I may get some sleep tonight,” said Scholes. “After the game, I said ‘Well done’. It was a tough night and not really a 4-1 game but I was proud with the way they battled.”