AINSWORTH BACKS REF OVER PENS
Fuming Nolan sees red at calls
GARETH Ainsworth says he is wary of the threat of relegation-threatened Grimsby as he aims to keep Wycombe’s promotion-push on track.
The Chairboys face the struggling Mariners on Bank Holiday Monday looking to build on what was a solid point against fourthplaced Notts County on Good Friday.
The promotion rivals fought out a goalless draw at Meadow Lane in a hard-fought contest which saw Notts hit the woodwork twice through Shola Ameobi and Elliott Hewitt.
Ainsworth was happy with his side’s performance at Meadow Lane, which kept them in third and now hopes they can back it up with a crucial win against Michael Jolley’s Mariners.
“It was a full-blooded contest against Notts and it felt like a cup tie,” he said.
“When you are at this stage of the season then you are going to get that. It was no holds barred stuff and I felt for the referee because he was getting it from all angles.
“He’s obviously going to get a lot stick from the home fans but I thought he stayed strong.
“One of the penalty decisions he did really well with because Shola Ameobi has grabbed our player from behind and rolled him.
“I think it was the right decision and the referee has handled the game well.
“There were some big tackles going in and a point apiece is probably better for us because we are away from home.
“But we’ve got to back this up on Monday now and that’s not going to be easy because they are scrapping for their lives at the bottom.”
While Wycombe entertain Grimsby, Notts head to Accrington Stanley in what looks a huge test for Magpies boss Kevin Nolan.
He heads to the Wham Stadium
hoping to keep on the right side of the referee having been sent to the stands by man in black Ben Toner against the Chairboys.
It was a result of protesting for a penalty after Ameobi appeared to be brought down by Adam El-Abd.
His dismissal did not deter Notts from trying to find a winner with Ameobi clattering the post in the first half from a delicious cross by Terry Hawkridge.
In a game of very few chances, Notts then hit the woodwork again in the second half when Hewitt also hit the woodwork.
But they were indebted to goalkeeper Adam Collin for making a superb save to deny Adebayo Akinfenwa’s header.
However, Nolan could not hide his frustration with the referee having been sent to the stands for the first time since moving from the dressing room to the dugout.
“I am fed up of talking about referees,” he said.
“It’s happening too many times. I keep talking about them getting help but they can help themselves.
“The penalty decisions they are missing at the minute are blatant.
“I hate the fact I keep talking about them because I want to talk about my team and how good they’ve been.
“If he gives a penalty and we go 1-0 up that gets the crowd going. It’s a different game and Wycombe have to change their game plan.
“It makes the game a lot better. For him to send me off for debating it was laughable and I told him that and it’s the first time I’ve ever been sent to the stands as manager.
“The fourth official didn’t want to talk to us when he’s supposed to be a go-between us and the ref.
“I just thought the whole team of them were really, really poor.
“But we’ve now got to go again on Bank Holiday Monday in what will be a really tough test.”
NOTTS COUNTY: (4-4-2): Collin 7, Tootle 8, Duffy 7, Brisley 7, Jones 7, Hawkridge 6 (Grant 63 6), Hewitt 6, Noble 6, Alessandra 6, Ameobi 7, Stead 6 Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Virtue, Hall, Smith, Husin, Walker
WYCOMBE: (4-3-3): Brown, 6 Moore 6 (Harriman 38 6), Jombati 6, El-Abd 7, Jacobson 6, Bean 6, O’Nien 6, Bloomfield 6, Tyson 6, Mackail-Smith 6 (CowanHall 90 N/A), Akinfenwa 6 Subs not used: MaKalambay, Williams, Freeman, Kashket