Shirt pull no-goal is mystery to Robins
REFEREE Darren Handley was at the centre of Scunthorpe manager Mark Robins’ frustrations as the Iron were held by Sheffield United.
The Lancashire official spared the blushes of Blades’ Iain Turner when he disallowed a goal after the visiting keeper had fumbled a corner into his own net. The incident occurred in the 50th minute, with the match finely poised.
Robins chose his words carefully, but described the goal as ‘dubious’.
Nigel Clough, the Sheffield United boss, said it was for a shirt pull before the ball had crossed the line.
“My view was a lot more limited than the referee,” said Robins.
“He’s seen an infringement, but there were no bodies around the goalkeeper. Whether Paddy Madden had a tug at his shirt, you’ll have to ask the referee.
“That’s what he said he disallowed it for, but the goalkeeper made a hash of the cross.
“We thought we were 2-1 up – but the referee deemed otherwise.”
Clough explained: “He’d actually given it before Iain spilled it in.
“As he spills it, there’s nobody on him, but there had been.”
The Blades had controlled almost the whole of the first half at Glanford Park but fell behind in the 37th minute when Iron midfielder Neal Bishop was well positioned to nod past Turner after a free-kick from deep had been headed back into the middle.
The Blades were level, though, on the stroke of half-time when full-back Kieron Freeman producing a measured finish to find the far corner when a cross ran through to him.
The Iron showed more steel after the break and Turner’s fumble came in the midst of a good spell for them as they looked the more threatening.
Both teams had opportunities to win it late on – but neither Madden, for Scunthorpe, or Blades substitute Jason Holt were able to hit the target.
Both bosses seemed content with a point, even though each had good cause to argue it should have been three.
“I’ll take the point in the end, but I thought we were the better team in the second half,” admitted Robins.
“The first half was a non-entity, but after the break we took the game to them and created enough opportunities to win 3-1 or 4-1.”
Meanwhile, Clough added: “In the first half, we played very well but conceded a goal from the only effort Scunthorpe had in the half.
“We had five or six very good opportunities to take the lead, but we got back on level terms very quickly with a brilliant goal.
“One full-back crossed and the other put it in from five yards inside the penalty area.”