Managers united in anger over ref
BOTH managers were left fuming with referee Darren Sheldrake as tenman Oxford United climbed out of the bottom two and ruined Justin Edinburgh’s third anniversary as Newport County boss.
Michael Appleton felt his Oxford side, who claimed only their second win of the season thanks to Michael Collins’ first half free-kick, would have won more comfortably if Tyrone Barnett hadn’t seen red, the striker sent off for two fouls on visiting defender Ismail Yakubu inside the first ten minutes of the second half.
But they hung on to win thanks to Collins’ 41stminute curler as Newport failed to make their numerical advantage count.
“I think it was a deserved win but we found ourselves in a position that we never should have been in,” said Appleton.
“I think when the officials have a look at the decision they’ll be embarrassed because it was a diabolical decision. It ruined a good game of football.
“We should have been coming in at the break three or four goals up and out of sight but we were looking to kick on in the second half and then they go and make a decision like that. I’ve never seen anything like that and I’ve been in football a long time.
“I’m angry that they’ve tried to take something away from us that we’d worked so hard for but I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of talking about them too much.”
Edinburgh, the 12thlongest serving manager in English professional football, was also frustrated that his side’s seven-game unbeaten run in League Two came to an end after Chris Zebroski’s late penalty appeal fell on deaf ears.
“He’s made a big decision, which is the right one, to send Barnett off but Zebroski is adamant that it was a penalty at the end,” said the angry Exiles boss.
“Anywhere else on the pitch it was a foul but it was one decision that was far too big for him to call.
“There is contact, he’s come from the wrong side and it is a penalty but he’s not been brave enough after the crowd had turned on him.”
Edinburgh also felt Collins’ winner was fortunate as it beat everyone and curled beyond Joe Day at the far post.
“We don’t like losing football matches and to lose to a fluke of a goal like we did obviously puts a dampener on the day,” he added.
“But it’s not about me, it’s about the team and we’ve lost our unbeaten run so that is very disappointing. You can say we should have beaten ten men but nine times out of ten that doesn’t happen, especially when a team is hanging on to a 1-0 lead.”