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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Scott Parker fumes over "criminal" referee decision as Bournemouth boss sees red

Promotion battles can do strange things to managers.

Normally, Scott Parker comes across as a mild-mannered coach on the touchline. But Saturday's dramatic defeat to Preston North End sent the Bournemouth boss into meltdown.

Parker felt there was a foul on Philip Billing in the build-up to Alan Browne providing the assist for what proved to be North End's winning goal in stoppage time.

Parker called the decision not to award his side a free-kick “unforgivable” and he, along with substitute Adam Smith, was shown a red card by referee Matt Donohue for his protestations.

The Cherries had taken the lead through Jamal Lowe only for goals from Cameron Archer and Emil Riis Jakobsen to turn the game on its head.

Can Bournemouth seal promotion back to the Premier League this season? Let us know in the comments

The result leaves Bournemouth third in the Championship, albeit with games in hand on second-placed Huddersfield.

Parker was far from happy post-match.

“I just haven’t got a clue for the life of me why the ref didn’t pull it back for a foul,” he said afterwards.

“Listen, I have made loads of mistakes today. All the 22 players on the pitch have made a lot of mistakes and the officials have made mistakes as well.

“I can always accept mistakes but the second goal is just criminal. I just don’t understand how you make the mistake.

“I just asked the question. I didn’t use any foul or abusive language to the official. I definitely have not used anything (language). I can categorically say I have not used any foul and abusive language. I have been in the game for a long time. I wouldn’t use foul and abusive language to officials or anyone because I understand at that point – I wouldn’t do that.

“Maybe I was animated? Maybe that’s the reason, I don’t know. But I asked the question ‘how have you not seen that, can you explain?’ I think at that point the fourth did speak to him.

"The fourth (official) obviously spoke to him and told him to send me off and he sent Adam Smith off as well.

“I’m animated, of course, I am. We have worked tirelessly this week, we are at the cutting edge of it we are all desperate at those moments and of course emotions can overflow a little bit.

“But I asked the question to the official, ‘how have you not given this?’ There are four of them on the pitch, they should work as a team. I don’t hear the official speak once to the referee in certain moments."

The result moves Preston to within five points of an unlikely play-off spot themselves.

Their boss Ryan Lowe said: "We fought to try and get a home win which we haven't had for a while. It feels nice and I said to the group we've probably got five home games out of our next 10.

"I want the lads to start believing, to make this place a fortress."

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