Artell irate after Alex sunk by Norwood
CREWE boss David Artell was fuming at referee Martin Coy as Alex were denied a late penalty in their defeat away at Tranmere.
Artell was aggrieved when substitute Shaun Miller was adjudged to have been fouled in the box, with Coy giving Tranmere a free-kick instead, as James Norwood’s 26th goal of the season in the second-half earned Rovers a fourth straight league win.
He said: “I don’t think there was much to separate the teams, they have looked dangerous from one kick from their keeper, we’ve had a stonewall penalty given as offside when their lad has played Shaun Miller in, and that is an absolutely shocking decision.
“I thought we edged the play without creating too much although we’ve had the best chance of the game, they’ve whacked a post again from a long kick from their keeper.
“Another long ball whacked down from their goalkeeper wasn’t dealt with and it ends up in the back of the net and I’m bitterly disappointed with the result.”
Tranmere’s winner came after 72 minutes when Scott Davies’ long punt up field was controlled by Norwood, who guided his right-footed shot into the bottom corner. The hosts had early chances, but Norwood scuffed wide when well positioned and Jonny Smith shot over.
Rovers goalkeeper Scott Davies came to the hosts’ rescue later in the half, thwarting forward Chris Porter from close range.
Following the restart, Norwood’s powerful snapshot across the face of goal inside the box crashed off the inside of a post.
After Rovers’ opener, Artell’s Railwaymen almost snatched a point in the dying embers, but Davies superbly denied substitute Miller from a matter of yards. Mellon said: “We expected a tough game, but we deserved the victory, apart from at the end I don’t remember us having to deal with much.
“I’m really pleased for the boys. We spoke about what we could affect, and one of those was the conditions and how the game was going to be played.
“We can keep going as we know that we have quality. At some stage we believe that that quality is going to come to fruition.”