Gafer's thoughts after the defeat at Bristol
Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst was furious with the referee after Town were beaten 2-0 by Bristol Rovers.Town went down to 10-men in the first half as Ryan Yates was controversially sent off and another costly decision followed as Toto Nsiala was adjudged to have given away a penalty in the second half.
It’s not the first time this season that refereeing decisions have cost Town dearly this season and Paul admitted that he has never known so many decisions go against a club he has managed.
“I don’t think I have known a season like it”, Hurst told the Press.
“Since I’ve come in we’ve had X amount of decisions go against us and there is an element that it feels like everyone’s against us and wants us to lose our League One status. All I can say is that we will continue to keep fighting.
“People talk about reasons for results and I have to say that there have been a lot of points that have been taken away from us through no fault of our own and today that is yet another one.”
The first controversial decision saw Ryan Yates sent off just before half-time for a second yellow card and Paul couldn’t understand why the decision was made.
“From where I was I don’t think there is any contact”, Hurst said.
“I don’t think any decision in going to be made until there player pushes Ryan Yates over. Amazingly I was told that he didn’t see the player push Ryan Yates.
“I don’t know where he was looking considering the incident had just occurred, but I am going to disagree with the sending off.”
Town held out to half-time, but another decision by referee Huxtable saw Bristol Rovers awarded a controversial penalty, which Paul again questioned.
“It’s a tough enough place to come as it is and we started off a little bit shakily, but then we grew into the game, had chances ourselves and the game was kind of panning out as I half expected it too”, said Paul.
“I thought we were very much in the game and then battled hard to half-time. And then in the second half I thought we were doing okay and then yet another decision.
“I don’t think anyone in the stadium thought it was a penalty. The crowd didn’t react like it was a penalty. The players that were alongside me from Bristol Rovers looked on in amazement and said no way, so for me that is a clue.
“People don’t understand that this is people’s livelihood, but no doubt it will be said that he hasn’t made a mistake and that he is right, so I’m not going to get drawn into too much.”
The defeat means that Town slipped back into the relegation zone, but Hurst has vowed to fight on and get Town out of trouble.
“With other results we have dropped into the bottom four, but I will certainly keep fighting and I think the players will as well”, said Paul.
“The performance was there to see in terms of commitment and I feel sorry for the fans who pay their money and give up their time to see a fair and even contest.”
“As a manager it feels like there’s not a lot you can do. You almost feel helpless stood there because you can’t legislate for those decisions.”