Furious Cobblers boss Boothroyd hits out at referee Breakspear

Cresswell had a hand in the decisive goal at Bootham Crescent, helping divert Ashley Chambers’ cross into the path of Ryan Jarvis, who rifled it home from eight yards to secure a 1-0 win.

Town had earlier had midfielder Darren Carter sent off on his debut for two bookings, and Boothroyd was incensed that Cresswell escaped a similar fate moments later.

After bursting into the box, the striker went down under contact from Ben Tozer, and while referee Breakspear waved away appeals for a penalty, he also refused to show Cresswell a second yellow card.

“I told Richard Cresswell as he came off and I shook his hand that he had too much experience for that referee,” said Boothroyd.

“He went over in the box, it was simulation and he should have been sent off.

“It should be a penalty or a yellow card for simulation but we didn’t get either of them, we got a ‘yeah, yeah’ and a smile.

“I don’t want to talk about referees, but unfortunately I am because he was certainly involved in the game a lot.

“Also I didn’t think Darren Carter should have been sent off either, I thought he got a toe on the ball.”

Boothroyd felt his side had done enough to secure a draw, especially after finishing the game short-handed, but was unable to focus his post-match assessment too far away from the referee.

“It was a sticky start and it was a typical game for the start of the season with everybody finding their feet,” he said.

“In the end I would have taken a point but we’ve ended up talking about the referee and his performance, and that’s disappointing.”