Appleton fuming after ref ride costs his side at death
MICHAEL APPLETON slammed referee David Webb for costing Blackpool a big win at leaders Sheffield United.
The battling Seasiders had brilliantly overturned a 2-0 deficit to hit the front early in the second half.
But they pressed the self-destruct button with Marvin Ekpiteta and Dom Thompson picking up needless second yellow cards in the final 12 minutes.
It looked like nine-man Blackpool would cling on before Oliver Norwood levelled in stoppage time.
“We will definitely ask the referee a few questions when we can,” said Seasiders boss Appleton.
“I think the way they managed the game in the second half was very different to in the first half.
“Their third goal was a foul on the keeper and there were three offside blocking his view.
“You can’t forgive the ref for missing that, they have got to see those things.
“I thought the officials had a poor day today.”
Frustrated Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom refused to blame the officials after watching the Blades blow two points.
“We got one penalty but could have had two more and we had a goal ruled out for offside,” he said.
“I can’t sit and moan at the referee for missing clear things because we had more than enough chances to win.
“Even with the defensive errors, we were wasteful and could have scored five or six, so I can’t blame the referee. We should have won.”
The Yorkshiremen got off to a flyer as James Mcatee headed home Billy Sharp’s cross on eight minutes.
Iliman Ndiaye made it two after Chris Maxwell failed to deal with a cross on 24 minutes.
Jerry Yates then bagged a 12-minute brace before half-time as the Seasiders turned the game around.
Kenneth Dougall capped a remarkable turnaround with a clinical finish five minutes after half-time.
But then Ekpiteta picked up a second yellow card after hacking down Rhian Brewster.
And Thompson was hit with a daft second yellow for booting the ball at sub Anel Ahmedhodzic. United fluffed a great chance to level when Brewster could only hit the post with an 87th-minute penalty after Ahmedhodzic was pulled back by Yates.
But Norwood smashed home eight minutes into stoppage time to earn United a last-gasp point.
Shayne Lavery and Wes Foderingham were both red-carded following a mass brawl after the final whistle.
SHEFF UTD: Foderingham 6; Baldock 7 (Khadra (85) 5), Basham 7, Egan 6, Norrington-davies 6; Norwood 7, Osborn 6 (Mcburnie (64) 7), Doyle 6, Mcatee 7 (Ahmedhodzic (64) 8); Ndiaye 7, Sharp 7 (Brewster (64) 6)
BLACKPOOL: Maxwell 8; Connolly 6, Ekpiteta 5, Thorniley 7, Thompson 5; Patino 7, Bridcutt 7 (Wright (75) 5), Dougall 7, Lavery 8 (Williams (82) 6); Madine 8 (Hamilton (85) 5), Yates 9
STAR MAN: Jerry Yates – Lively throughout the game and inspired Blackpool’s comeback with two goals.
REF: David Webb 9