Mark Cooper criticises referee after Forest Green draw with Stevenage

Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2018 by PA

Forest Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper was furious that his side were not awarded a penalty by referee Brett Huxtable in a goalless draw against Stevenage.

The Rovers manager felt that Scott Cuthbert used his hands to block a Christian Doidge shot through a mass of bodies as his side threw everything forward in the second half.

Theo Archibald also saw his fierce shot saved from close range for the hosts and substitute George Williams saw his diving header sail over from close range.

“I’m really pleased and thought we were outstanding tonight and totally dominated the game and had to deal with time-wasting and histrionics but we didn’t rise to it,” Cooper said.

“We just kept playing our football and totally deserved to win and I said to the players that they were outstanding and would have lost that game last season.

“We missed some great chances but that was the only thing that was missing. We must be the team that gets the most penalties against us and I know for a fact we get awarded the least.

“Scott Cuthbert has handled the ball and stopped it going in the goal six yards out. If the referee doesn’t see it then there is three other officials.

“When you see it on the television I’m not sure the referee will be able to referee again this season with a mistake of that magnitude.

“It is important we have that siege mentality and I’m not sure how many people like us at the FA, I don’t really care but we have to make sure we don’t rely on referees.”

Stevenage also had their chances James Rall striking a stinging volley in the first half and then forcing the host goalkeeper into fingertip save from a free-kick after the break.

“It was a very good point and good game of football which was box to box,” said Stevenage manager Dino Maamria.

“There was a lot of action and they are a good team which I knew and Cooper has learnt from last season and has assembled a decent team.

“Anybody who comes here and keeps a clean sheet will do well. We had three very good attempt on target and they had two but Paul (Farman) had to make one very good save.

“You expect the home team to have momentum behind them but apart from that in the first half we got on top of them but we finished the game quite comfortably.

“We have travelled a long way and last season we got beat 3-1. I didn’t see the penalty shout and if you can see everything through a mass of bodies.

“Scott Cuthbert hit one with his head with a penalty and it was a touch of desperation at the end there. Every time the ball went into the box they were claiming for a penalty.”