Notts County boss Nolan bemoans refereeing decisions in Crawley defeat - 7M sport

Notts County boss Nolan bemoans refereeing decisions in Crawley defeat



Posted Wednesday, January 24, 2018 by PA

Notts County boss Nolan bemoans refereeing decisions in Crawley defeat

Notts County boss Kevin Nolan bemoaned refereeing decisions which he believes cost his side in a 2-1 defeat to Crawley Town.

County first had Matty Virtue sent off for two yellow cards before goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons saw red for lashing out at Jimmy Smith in the penalty area in stoppage time.

Referee Robert Lewis gave the stopper his marching orders before Josh Payne slotted home the resulting penalty to give the visitors three points.

Nolan was left incensed by the standard of refereeing as his side lost back-to-back matches for the first time this season.

“I was angry for all the wrong reasons,” Nolan claimed. “I was very disappointed to lose the game and when you look back, it’s the little decisions referees get wrong that are costing us at the minute.

“One of those was Matty Virtue’s yellow card. It’s not a yellow – everybody can see it.

“The lad has won the ball cleanly. Then for the second red, it’s a goal kick and not a corner.

“But listen I am not going to try to look after Ross Fitzsimons in this because we all take accountability for our own actions.

“It has cost us a point, but if it’s a goal kick then it doesn’t happen.

“But I’ve said to the lads that to suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time this season shows how far we have come.

“I don’t want to keep harping on about referees but he simply wasn’t good enough to referee this game.”

Smith’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Jonathan Stead’s 58th-minute penalty before Payne’s late spot-kick sealed a win which leaves County six points behind League Two leaders Luton Town.

Crawley boss Harry Kewell was delighted with the way his side plugged away to secure a fourth victory in five games.

“We played the game properly, we passed and moved it and we created chances,” Kewell claimed.

“We knew what they were going to do, and they do it well which is why they are second in the league.

“We had to be at our very best to deal with that, and I thought my back four were excellent.

“We were strong, powerful and in the right way. They could have kept going on and on and they were winning every header.

“It showed how hard we are working in terms of playing the game the right way. And it’s been difficult, but I take my hat off to the boys because they are showing so much courage.

“They are taking it on board and when Josh (Lelan) handled for the penalty, he still wanted the ball.

“He wasn’t shying away and the team played the right way which is important.”

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