Page frustration at '˜harsh' Taylor red card as Cobblers decide against making an appeal

The Town midfielder was dismissed an hour into Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Glanford Park, with referee Darren Handley brandishing a red card following a challenge on Neal Bishop.

Taylor was went into the tackle on the stretch after overrunning the ball and Page accepts he caught the Scunthorpe man, but the Town boss felt it didn’t warrant a dismissmal that will now see his player banned for three matches.

“I still think it is a harsh red card, certainly having looked at other tackles made over the weekend,” said Page.

“You look at the Oxford game (on Sunday) and there is the exact same scenario where the lad has a bigger tough than he would normally have, chases after it and makes the tackle and the free-kick is not even given, and Wimbledon score the second goal.

“It is a similar tackle to what Matty made, and he gets a straight red, so the inconsistency is a little frustrating.

“But it is something we have looked at, and it is a 50/50 where some would give it and some wouldn’t, so we have decided not to appeal it and we have to get on with it.”

A further source of frustration for Page was that he felt Taylor’s challenge wasn’t even as bad as two made by Scunthorpe players on Saturday.

“There has to be clarity, because there is no malice in the tackle whatsoever and it is not in Matty to do that,” said the Town boss.

“He has gone for the ball and has half pulled out of the challenge as well.

“He has apologised, but that counts for nothing as you can try to break somebody’s leg and still apologise afterwards, but Matty is not like that.

“It is a harsh decision, and I felt there were two other incidents in the game where I thought there were far worse tackles by Scunthorpe on our players.

“There was one on Zander Diamond which is definitely a leg-breaker, and the one where two players sandwiched Brendan Moloney and he is lucky to get away without an injury to his face.

“They were far worse in my opinion (than Taylor’s challenge) and nothing was given so that is again frustrating, but some go for you and some don’t.”

Taylor will now be suspended for Saturday’s Sixfields date with Millwall, next Tuesday’s trip to Peterborough United, and the following weekend’s match at Shrewsbury Town.