Reds boss labels ref 'inept' (From The Argus)

Reds boss labels ref 'inept'

11:00am Monday 10th September 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Boss Richie Barker slammed referee Darren Deadman as “inept” after he sent off two players in Crawley’s 3-0 defeat at home to Portsmouth yesterday.

Barker was furious after Deadman dismissed both Josh Simpson and Hope Akpan for second bookable offences.

The Reds manager was sent to the stand himself in the closing stages of the game with Barker accusing the official of favouring the so-called bigger club.

Barker said: “We spend hours and hours to be as good as we can be and an inept performance as far as I’m concerned ruined the day for everybody.

“He (Deadman) has a previous record of waving yellow cards about and unfortunately he has ruined our day.

“I know of good referees who if you have had a couple of dodgy moments will tell you that you are running out of chances. They say ‘Let’s try to keep 11 on the pitch’ but today somebody decided it was about them.

“I think that the powers that be need to have a good look at this. We need better referees.”

Akpan and Simpson will be banned for Saturday’s trip to Preston North End and Barker believes the rule around appealing cautions needs to be changed.

Barker added: “Why can’t you appeal two yellow cards that clearly aren’t yellow cards? I suppose it comes down to people’s interpretation but I find that amazing.”