COWLEY CRIES FOUL AFTER CHAPMAN RED
Imps boss furious as U’s deny leaders
DANNY Cowley vowed to appeal against Ellis Chapman’s contentious red card after his Lincoln side were held by Cambridge United.
The 17-year-old midfielder was controversially sent off for a challenge on Gary Deegan after 20 minutes.
The players went for a 50/50 challenge, which saw the 17-yearold catch the U’s man slightly late.
Most observers felt the tackle warranted a yellow card, but referee Lee Collins immediately brandished a red one, leaving the Imps to play for 70 minutes with 10 men.
By that point it was 1-1 after Matt Rhead’s headed opener after six minutes had been cancelled out by Jevani Brown’s stunning equaliser five minutes later.
Cowley felt the decision ruined what was shaping up to be a really good game.
“It wasn’t, was it? It was arguably a booking,” said Cowley, who felt the official should have taken more time over the decision. “There was limited force, he was just trying to make a pass and he caught him.
“It’s the way that the referee reached the decision, the red card has come out on complete impulse.
“He’s got just one view, he’s got a linesman and fourth official within 10 metres and he flashes the red card without considering their opinion.
“We haven’t got VAR at this level, but we have got two other qualified officials. They’re called assistant referees rather than linesman because they’re meant to be assisting the referee. I feel really sorry for the supporters. We had over 9,000 supporters there. What was going to be a really good game – a great advert for League Two – was completely spoiled.
“We’ll appeal it and we’ll probably get off – that’s fine – but it’s still potentially cost us two points because we were playing well and were in a really good place to win that game.
“And I feel really sorry for Ellis. He’s a 17-year-old kid who’s going to be a top player. It was his second league start of his career.
“I’ve spoken to their manager and their captain, who was involved in the tackle, and they couldn’t believe it was a sending off.
“And they said they were willing to help us with the appeal, which is very good of them.”
The League Two leaders raced out of the blocks, needing just six minutes to take the lead. Bruno Andrade was the provider with a wonderful cross from the left. Rhead, still had plenty to do, but made it look easy as he planted a brilliant header beyond David Forde.
Out of the blue, Cambridge drew level in spectacular fashion just five minutes later. Brown cut in from the right and rifled a stunning left-foot drive into the top corner of the net. Chapman was dismissed when he caught Deegan with slightly late challenge which referee Collins deemed to be a straight card offence.
Imps keeper Josh Vickers then denied Ade Azeez, before Forde thwarted Shay McCartan at the other end.
Vickers also saved from Deegan, before making a crucial double save from sub David Amoo and Brown in injury-time.
Dunne said: “I didn’t think there was too much in it. I’ll have a look at it again but I didn’t think there was a lot there.”
Despite playing for 70 minutes against 10 men, Dunne was still pleased with the point against a side he believes will go on and win the title.
“We have to take this in perspective,” he said. “Lincoln with 10 men could beat a lot of teams in this league with a complete line-up. They are a very good side.
“I’m not going to say it’s not a good point because, in the circumstances, it is.
“We tried to do all we could against a team who are top of the league and will probably win the league. It’s a difficult place to come and the crowd were amazing for Lincoln, but my team deserve a bit a credit too, even though we had 11 men.
“I’m going to give my players a lot of credit for taking a point. I think it was deserved.”
LINCOLN CITY: Vickers 7, Eardley 8, Bostwick 6, Wharton 6, Toffolo 6, Anderson 6 (Wilson 32, 7), Chapman 5, Pett 5, Andrade 6, Rhead 7 (Akinde 34, 6), McCartan 6 (Green 76, 6). Subs not used: Gordon, Mensah, Slocombe, Adebayo-Smith.
CAMBRIDGE UNITED: Forde 6, Halliday 7, Taft 7, John 6, Taylor 6, Deegan 7, O’Neil 6 (Amoo 46, 7), Maris 7 (Osadebe 88), Lambe 6, Azeez 6 (Lewis 90), Brown 7. Subs not used: Darling, Knowles, Iron, Foy.