Kewell hits out at referee after being sent off in thrashing at Exeter

Posted Sunday, September 09, 2018 by PA

Harry Kewell felt his sending off was harsh as his first league game in charge of Notts County ended with a disastrous 5-1 defeat at Exeter City.

The rock-bottom Magpies were already 4-1 behind when the newly-appointed boss was shown a red card by referee Neil Hair for arguing whether his side should have been awarded a penalty in the clash at St James Park.

However, he had no complaints with the result as his side were comprehensively beaten by an Exeter side that could have won by a bigger margin.

“We went in at 2-1 and it was game on,” Kewell said. “I was confident we were going to get something out of the game. But another set-piece and a mistake and we are 3-1 down. That is when the anger kicked in.

“I questioned the handball and you have to change a few other things because we are chasing the game. The eagle-eyed referee sees another handball gives it them and they miss it so we are still in it.

“Then there was a cross in the box and it was one of those does it hit his hand, or does it not? The referee says no, we are complaining, they go up the other end and score a goal.

“That was disappointing and that is when I get my marching orders. I said ‘well done’ to the referee; I said you can see one in the far corner but not one straight in front of you.

“Everyone wants to win, I am a winner. We had to try things and we had to be vulnerable at the back to get players in the box.”

Exeter manager Matt Taylor was thrilled with his side, who won with braces from Pierce Sweeney and Jayden Stockley and a maiden goal for Aaron Martin.

Sweeney could have had a hat-trick, missing a second spot kick, but it failed to dampen the spirit of the City boss.

“A clean sheet would have been nice as well, but there was a real purpose about us today. A real intent,” Taylor said. “We played on the front foot and ran them into the ground, we created countless chances and we could have scored a few more.

“I’m joking about that clean sheet, but I am still disappointed with their goal. It is something we have to improve on, but I was pleased with the performance.

“The players took everything on board off the back of last weekend. I felt we had to show more intent and desire higher up the pitch and not just play in front of our goal.

“The whole team were able to play higher up the pitch and off the back of that, we were able to get to the by-line and create chances with crosses and it is something we worked on all week really.”