Nolan: Referee 'let Cobblers down' after missing 'punch' from Rotherham player
Kevin Nolan believes his team were ‘let down’ by the officials after they missed two key incidents during Tuesday’s defeat at Rotherham, including a ‘punch’ on one of his players.
The incidents Nolan referred to in is post-match interview both happened at the start of the second half. Leading 1-0 at the time, Cobblers were adamant they should have been awarded a spot-kick for handball after the ball struck an outstretched arm in the penalty box. Moments later, a Rotherham player wrestled Jack Burroughs to the ground off the ball and appeared to take a swipe at the Northampton defender but it was missed by both referee Alan Young and his team of assistants.
"The referee has let us down again,” said Nolan. “We are 1-0 up and should have been given a clear penalty. Everyone could see it. All the fans knew it was a penalty. How the officials didn’t give it, I don’t know.
"It’s a critical time in the game for us as well because we’re 1-0 up and it could go 2-0 and all of a sudden it changes for them. These are big moments. We had it at Reading as well where again it’s a clear penalty for us and the referee doesn’t give it.
"It’s happened again tonight, and then you have the lad who has punched Jack Burroughs on the floor in the penalty box. How did they miss that? I saw it from the sidelines and they’re watching the same game as me. It’s really poor from them and we’ll be asking questions.
"But it can’t be about them because it’s about us and what we have to do is get better quickly.”
Nevertheless, Nolan admitted his side appeared to wilt somewhat after Harry Gray headed Rotherham level just before the hour-mark.
"That happens when you're at home and you get a goal back – the crowd get up and the momentum shifts,” Nolan added. “We looked a bit vulnerable when they equalised because there were still opportunities to attack and put balls in the right places but it seemed as if the players were clouded in their judgements.
"We have to really get back down to basics and that's what we'll be doing over the next 72 hours before Reading at the weekend.”