More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Steve Evans was mystified by some of the refereeing decisions that he felt contributed to Gillingham’s defeat against Portsmouth.
Evans, the Gills manager, was upset about some early decisions that went against his side, furious that they didn’t get a penalty when John Akinde was taken out in the box and confused as to how the visitors finished with eleven men.
Commenting after the 1-0 defeat, Evans said: “I was mystified by some of the decisions. I will ask him (referee Dean Whitestone) and I will get the normal tripe in reply.”
There was a huge call to make on the hour mark when visiting keeper Gavin Bazunu took Akinde out when the Gills striker got to the ball first.
Evans was further angered when former Gills youngster Mahlon Romeo escaped a second caution just moments after picking up his first for a foul. He denied Danny Lloyd the chance to take a throw.
He said: “I am mystified why it’s not a penalty on John Akinde, at a key stage of the game. I see John getting to the ball first, the goalkeeper plays it, he gets a touch and then cleans John out, it is a penalty every day of the week. To not give John Akinde the penalty is hard to take.
“He allows Portsmouth to keep eleven players on the pitch, when it is an automatic second yellow for what the kid does. I don’t want the kid sent off but it is an automatic yellow.
“I am mystified that they haven’t had a player sent off when he goes and grabs the ball and keeps hold of it. He is already on a yellow but (the referee) takes the decision to talk to him.
“Danny Lloyd tries to take the throw, the kid grabs it and almost puts himself on top of (the ball). It is an automatic yellow, you are told that, it is what we are told at the start of the season but what we are told at the start of the season didn’t obviously apply.
“There were a number of decisions that weren’t in our favour when they are clear fouls and free-kicks but the reason we lost is because they took a quick set-play, in terms of the throw-in, Robbie (McKenzie) gambled, thought the boy was going to cross it and jumps in. He should have stood his ground and then they get a bit of luck, it goes off Jack Tucker’s heel and goes in.
“The referee was a factor in why we lost by having an absolute stinker but the best team got beaten and we have to get on with it.”
