Crawley boss Gabriele Cioffi felt Ollie Palmer dismissal ‘killed the game’
Posted Sunday, December 09, 2018 by PA
Crawley head coach Gabriele Cioffi was more disappointed with the sending off of Ollie Palmer than the penalty his side conceded in the 1-0 home defeat against Northampton.
A 53rd-minute spot-kick by Kevin van Veen gave the Cobblers their first win in four league games but Cioffi felt the sending off of Palmer just two minutes later “killed the game”.
Top scorer Palmer, back in the side following suspension, was shown a straight red card following a flare up with Aaron Pierre.
Referee Craig Hicks had a plastic water bottle thrown at him by Crawley fans at the end of the game.
Cioffi said: “It was a physical dynamic between the two players, but I didn’t see the arm go into the face.
“It was never a red card, it killed the game and unbalanced it. We will discuss whether to appeal.”
Dutchman Van Veen gave Northampton only their third away league win, slotting home from the spot for his 10th goal of the season after Palmer was adjudged to have brought down Pierre.
Cioff added: “The referee had a better perspective for that. It is the referee’s decision.”
Crawley felt they were denied a penalty of their own when Ash Taylor appeared to bring down Dannie Bulman in the area.
Cioffi said: “Bulman said he was fouled. He didn’t dive.”
Crawley have now won only one of their last nine games in all competitions, but Cioffi insists that progress is being made.
“I am making a real squad of men. We didn’t concede many chances with one man less and we want to win every game.”
Northampton boss Keith Curle felt justice was done when his side got the penalty.
“It was an honest challenge but he has gone through Pierre in the box and it is a penalty,” he said.
“I didn’t see the sending off, but our captain has said the lad swung his arm and hit him.”
Curle felt that Taylor’s late challenge on Bulman was fair, and added: “The lad did well to get back to make the challenge as Bulman pulled the trigger. I wouldn’t have thought it would be a sending off.”
Curle admitted his men did not take full advantage of their one man advantage, but believes his players are making steady progress.
He added: “We are organised and disciplined and we are prepared to face challenges.
“Now we need the players to believe in themselves. They are growing in confidence and belief and are coming out of their shells.
“It was a scrappy first half with the wind howling, but our defence gave us a solid platform.”
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