Gaffer reacts to Rovers defeat and controversial red card
By Matt Johnson
Graham Turner blasted the performance of the referee as Town were reduced to ten men midway through the first-half before eventually succumbing to a stoppage time goal to lose out 2-1 to Doncaster.
Dave McAllister was shown a straight red for a challenge on Iain Hume and Rovers took the lead with just under 20 minutes remaining. A goalkeeping error gifted Tom Eaves an equaliser a minute from time, but Donny struck back with a deflected effort deep into added time to steal the points.
“It’s hard enough to play against Doncaster, who are top of the table now, and to go down to ten men in the game made life very difficult for us,” said Turner.
“That decision has cost us dearly. Having said that, we did show a bit of character and worked hard and defended quite well last ditch and Chris Weale made one or two good saves.
“It is a kick in the teeth when you concede so late after showing the character in the last 15 minutes. We worked tremendously hard and I think we’ve been undone by the referee’s decision.”
After reviewing the incident, Turner stated that he intends to appeal the “scandalous” decision to show Dave McAllister red when the Town midfielder appeared to have taken 100% of the ball and nothing of the man.
“I’ve seen it on DVD and it’s a scandalous sending off. I’ve just been in to see the referee who said Dave wasn’t in control of his actions.
“What he’s done is he’s taken off to pass or poke the ball to our full-back. The Doncaster player has been nowhere near the ball until a split second later, and then he’s almost gone over David’s backside. So there’s never any thought that he wasn’t in control and there was never any danger to the Doncaster player and so we really do feel hard done by on that basis. On the evidence of what we’ve seen be shall appeal against it.
“First thing tomorrow morning we will get the DVD, note the time down and send it off with our deposit and hope there is justice done.”
Victories for Bury, Scunthorpe and Colchester at the bottom made it a bad night all-round for Town, but Turner is eager to keep heads held high heading in to a local derby with Walsall after a battling performance.
“Following Saturday’s win [v Stevenage] it looked a lot healthier, now it looks very difficult again – but that’s going to happen between now and the end of the season and we have to get over it.
“Walsall have had a good win, 3-0 at Carlisle. I saw them a few weeks ago and they are a good passing side. We know what to expect from them and we’ve got to show a good bit of character there now and get a good result.”