SUNDERLAND LUTON ROSS IN A RED RAGE Cats boss blasts ‘poor decisions’
JACK ROSS hit out at “poor decisions” as Sunderland suffered their SIXTH straight red card of the season.
The Black Cats missed the chance to leapfrog Luton into the automatic promotion places after a James Collins penalty cancelled out Chris Maguire’s first-half goal.
Town’s Danny Hylton saw red for swinging an elbow, while Maguire (inset below) went in injury time for violent conduct as ref Lee Probert had a controversial day.
Boss Ross said: “Neither were red cards. There were some poor decisions made. He had a poor game. I get frustrated with certain elements. I’m allowed to say that.
“Hylton’s was only a caution. Maguire was sent off for a stamp which it wasn’t.
“For their penalty, Maguire was fouled in the build up which was a free-kick.”
Ross added: “When we don’t win at home we feel frustrated.
“We are in a really good position, not brilliant but good.”
It was Sunderland’s 10th draw in the league – too many for a side looking to take charge of the division.
Luton stretched ed their te unbeaten league record ord to 14 games dating back k to mid- October, and d have to recover from losing boss Nathan
Jones in midweek.
Maguire slotted his seventh this season from 18 yards.
It took until the e
67th minute for the Hatters to level. Collins ins hit the post and Hylton dribbled the rebound towards goal, only to be caught by Tom Flanagan. Collins smashed the spot-kick down the middle.
Three minutes later, as Luton sensed a win, Hylton was sent off for elbowing Flanagan.
There was history to the
clash. clas Earlier Flanagan Flanag flattened Hylton and Collins stepped in for a strong word.
Caretaker Luton boss Mick Harford said: “We’d have won but for the sending off. Danny Hylton is our talisman. He said it wasn’t intentional.
“I’ve been there, like many centre- forwards have! He is distraught. We will hopefully appeal it.”
It was a f ull- blooded encounter, with Sunderland aggressive. But Maguire will now miss three games.
The Mackems fed off the passion of another huge crowd – 37,791 turned up for a third tier game, the third-highest of the day in England. Keeper Jon Mclaughlin made f our excellent saves, two from the impressive James Justin.
Luton looked quicker and better on the ball, but Sunderland levelled it up with robust, hard running.
Harford said: “We have had a bit of a setback this week with Nathan leaving. I have tried to galvanise the players a bit.”