"I posted yesterday morning I had a bad feeling and thought it may be a long drive home.
How right that turned out to be, but not for the reason I expected.
Being a Darlo fan for 60+ years I am well versed in the art of disappointments, but while our tactics were wrong last night and we looked poor as a team, with little or no creativity, what really galls is that we come away feeling so let down by officials.
I used to mark refs performances in 3 leagues up to the Southern league premier division as it was pre Conf' North and South, and while I try to be neutral towards them I have to say the performance of last nights ref was the worst I have ever witnessed. It does not matter if a reckless tackle is in the first or last minute, it deserves and demands a straight red card, and as someone who bemoans the loss of tackling from our game, even Norman Hunter would have expected to walk for that challenge on Scott. That challenge set the tone, and long before half time I had given up hope of anything going our way for the night.
One just hopes that there was an assessor present, and the appropriate action taken against the official.
Sorry to say, but likewise, Martin Gray should be dealt with VERY harshly for, once again, being shown a red card. To often Martin!!! You are meant to lead by example, and your behaviour was far from the kind of example to set. NO excuse how upset you were."