Northampton Town manager Jon Brady fumed at the "absolutely shocking" performance of referee Oliver Langford in Saturday's defeat to Bristol Rovers.
Harry Anderson's goal inside 40 seconds was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Joey Barton's Gas, who climbed to fourth in League Two, but Brady was furious with the way the officials handled the game at Sixfields. The game certainly was lacking in style points as both sides engaged in a gruelling battle with plenty on the line in the promotion race, but Brady believes his side were "dominant" and deserved more for their afternoon's work.
The Northampton boss believes Langford failed to police the game correctly, making the game like the "Wild West". Much of his criticism centred on Sam Finley, who was involved in incidents with Tyler Magloire and Aaron McGowan, and Brady thinks the Gas midfielder should have been sent off. Finley received a booking for the foul on McGowan.
"If you watch the video back you will see what happens, and we knew at the time," the Cobblers boss told the Northampton Chronicle.
"Tyler went off to the hospital because he dislocated his shoulder, but that incident sums the referee's day up, where he doesn't get hold of the game. Finley gets Tyler in a headlock, twists him over and throws him to the ground, and that is why he has dislocated his shoulder.
"It was like the Wild West out there. The game wasn't managed properly by the referee, it was an absolutely shocking display of refereeing.
"He let them (Rovers) manage the game with the time, and then Aaron McGowan's ankle is in a ridiculous state. The tackle that was made on him, how that is not a red card I don't know either."
At full time, Rovers boss Barton labelled the third-placed Cobblers a "glorified rugby team", adding that they are "effective" and could well get promoted.
Brady made clear he took exception to his counterpart's comment.
"He is unbelievable isn't he?," the Northampton boss replied. "He is the gift that keeps on giving."
Rovers had huge success in managing the game on Saturday, preventing Northampton from gaining any momentum, but Barton's side did have to ride their luck at times.
Neither side created chances freely, but Jon Guthrie and Mitch Pinnock struck the crossbar flush with efforts either side of half time and Brady believes Northampton deserved something from the game.
He explained: "Overall in the game, we have hit the woodwork twice, Paul Lewis has a great snapshot in the box and their keeper pulls off a helluva save. I think we have at least done enough to get a point, if not get the win.
What I am really proud about today is that my players kept working really hard, dominated most of the game, and the fans stuck with us throughout. They really drove us on and it was great they did stick with us and show that togetherness.
"I said to the players after the game, that if you give that type of effort you usually deserve to get something out of the game. It doesn't change our perspective on what we are trying to do and what we need, the amount of wins we need. The number of games left is getting shorter, but the number of wins we need doesn't change, and we can go on a run to do that."
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