Nigel Pearson labelled the officials' treatment of Rob Atkinson on the side of the pitch as a disgrace after the defender sustained a suspected ACL injury during Bristol City's 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
The 24-year-old could be sidelined for the rest of the season after being forced off on a stretcher after 17 minutes at the Stadium of Light. Atkinson went down following a fairly innocuous challenge with Amad Diallo but the severity of the injury soon became clear as he held his right knee in obvious discomfort.
As Atkinson was already just off the pitch receiving treatment from the physio in front of the dugout, referee Gavin Ward issued play to continue. Just seconds later, the ball hit the central defender while he was lying on the floor with players forced to run around him.
Tomas Kalas came on to replace Atkinson who was carried off the field and down the tunnel for further treatment. Pearson, who was celebrating his 100th game in charge of the Robins, said after the game: "I wasn't happy with how Rob was treated when he was off the pitch.
"He was quite clearly in pain and it was potentially a quite serious injury. We'll have to wait for a scan but for the officials to be happy with more or less trampling on him on the side, I think was a disgrace personally.
"He was in pain and we needed to move him safely. I just thought that was really poor." When asked whether it was a suspected ACL injury, he responded: "It's possible - it may be. I heard the contact and I could see he was in pain straight away.
"Which is why I am particularly irritated by the lack of care that he got from the officials. That's where they should step in.
"I know the crowd are going to be disgruntled and I understand that but that's a part of away games. Especially when you play at a place like this when there are 40,000 (supporters) - it's quite partisan.
"It's a fantastic atmosphere and that's part and parcel of it. But, the player's safety comes first."
City stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions after City's 469-day wait for a penalty came to a half in the final embers of the contest. Substitute Jay Dasilva burst into the area and was tripped from behind, allowing Nahki Wells to keep his cool from the spot.
It was no less than the visitors deserved and Jack Clarke's goal on the hour mark came completely against the run of play when he arrowed an effort into the top corner. City squandered decent opportunities throughout with Anis Mehmeti hitting the inside of the post in the first half.
"I was a bit nervous at the end there but Nahki was nice and calm," Pearson said of the penalty. "I think it would be a little ironic that it was a penalty that got us something today. The officiating was very infuriating for both sides.
"We felt we should have had a penalty in the first half when Sam Bell was pushed for a chance right after the restart - I'm tired of talking about it but the important thing is that our players got rewarded for what was another very positive performance which really showed the character of them as players as well as the technical ability.
"There was a resilience there and I was very pleased to see that from them. It was probably a game where both teams felt they could have won.
"At 1-0 down, Max made a couple of really important saves for us because we were pushing forward. I just think we deserve something today. Yes, we could have won it but I think it was a good game of football and two promising young teams.
"We didn't want to come here just with the intention of going away with a point, we wanted to win the game and I think the overall game reflected that. The important thing for me was that we got something out of the game which gives us reward for another positive performance.
"The fans who have a difficult journey up here, they've had a trying visit but they were in good voice and today football wins."
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