Boss blasts Brett

Photo: Alan Howarth

OFF YOU GO . . . referee Brett Huxtable brandishes a red card towards Athletic midfielder Ousmane Fane.

ATHLETIC manager Stephen Robinson was unhappy with the role played by referee Brett Huxtable as his side suffered two dismissals at Oxford.

A scrappy opening goal by Cameron Burgess was levelled after half-time by Rob Hall's accurate strike.

After that, Ousmane Fane picked up a second yellow card - the first booking was unduly harsh, in Robinson's opinion - for his second dismissal of the season. He will now serve a two-game ban, but it appears Fane will be able to feature in tomorrow's Checkatrade Trophy clash at Walsall (7.45pm kick-off) due to the special rules in place for the revamped and extended competition.

Athletic's goalkeeping coach Carlo Nash was later sent to the stand at the Kassam Stadium, as was home manager Michael Appleton, as a disagreement brewed between the respective benches in what was a fiery contest.

'BOOKING'

"The first half booking (for Fane) set up the referee to have to make a booking," said Robinson, of a game that contained seven bookings in which the worst offence, a ninth-minute hack from behind by Chey Dunkley on Ryan McLaughlin, went unpunished save for a free-kick.

"Ousmane has to learn and has to stay on his feet, but the first decision came even though people didn't get booked for diving and worse tackles.

"When you book someone for nothing, you set yourself up.

"If you had said five years ago that was a yellow card, some of the older players must look at it thinking it is embarrassing. You can't tackle players any more.

"People are getting booked for nothing - on both sides, not just for us.

"It is tough for the referee with people diving, but they need to be stronger."

On Nash being instructed to leave the technical area along with Appleton, Robinson does not believe there should be any further action taken by authorities.

"Why Carlo was sent off, I am amazed," said Robinson.

"He questioned the referee's decision with a fourth official and 'Appy' will speak for himself, but I can't understand it.

'HAPPENED'

"I didn't see what was going on as I was at the front and it happened behind me. I know Appy and he's a passionate boy and we have a passionate staff here too. I don't think there was any harm done in the end."

A draw lifts Athletic a place to 22nd in the Sky Bet League One table, two points adrift of safety but with a game in hand on 20th-placed Bury.

Freddie Ladapo (knee) and Mark Klok (calf) missed out at the weekend due to injury and it remains to be seen whether striker Billy Mckay will feature in tomorrow's knock-out game at the Banks's Stadium after suffering a cut to the back of his head at Oxford which needed six stitches.

"We really missed him when he went off and for the size of him, he gives us a great outlet to get up the pitch," Robinson added.

"We desperately missed him and didn't have the effect when we made the change."