Boss’s blast at referee

Fleetwood 1 Latics 1 - Liam Kelly scoring Latics equaliser

ATHLETIC manager John Sheridan felt a sense of injustice as his side were held at Fleetwood, slamming the performance of referee Graham Salisbury.

Jonathan Forte had a penalty appeal turned down five minutes from half-time with the game scoreless at the Highbury Stadium, when last-man Conor McLaughlin appeared to tangle with him in the penalty area.

Stefan Scougall later put the home side in front with Liam Kelly hitting an equaliser soon after and with Blackpool losing 3-0 at Rochdale, the gap between the bottom-four now stands at three points ahead of tomorrowis trip to Southend.

Sheridan was pleased with the character shown by his injury-hit side to recover and gain a point, but was far less happy with the work of the 53-year-old referee.

It would have been a red card. Why has he not booked Jonathan Forte for diving?À Sheridan said. It is a ridiculous decision. Itis embarrassing.

The fourth official couldnit explain it and the referee, I donit even want to ask him.

He was too far away and he couldnit keep up with the game.À

Chesterfield lost 3-0 at home to Sheffield United, Shrewsbury scored late on to rescue a 1-1 home draw with Bradford and Doncaster gave themselves hope of an unlikely escape with a surprise 3-1 victory over title-chasing Wigan.

Sheridan added: It is really tight down there and you just have to stay in the mix.

We have gained a point on Blackpool, which is a plus.

The results are always funny in this division so we just have to look after ourselves.

We have a big game at Southend and if we win that, we go six points clear of Blackpool so that is what we will try to do.

I have always done well at Southend as a manager, so I go there with belief we can win again.À

The fitness of Mike Jones (ribs) and Carl Winchester (knee) was being assessed today with a view to playing at Roots Hall.

Neither injury is thought to be long-term, though James Wilson aggravated an ankle problem in the second half at the Highbury Stadium and is a worry.

Athleticis manager brought on Connor Brown, Jake Cassidy and Dominic Poleon in the second half. When asked about Poleon, whose last appearance before a leg injury was in January, Sheridan revealed he was not happy with some of his fringe players.

I put him (Poleon) the squad because we were short,À he said. I want people not in the team to be bright.

Lee Croft did alright and having not played for a long time, showed some nice touches and kept possession for us.

But people who arenit in the team, there are one or two of them whose attitude I don't like.À

Gillinghamis Bradley Dack was named as the Sky Bet League One player of the season at last night's Football League Awards.

Craig Morgan (Wigan) and Nicky Ajose (Swindon) were the other players from the division to be named in a combined team of the season across all divisions, with Northampton manager Chris Wilder as manager.

Football League team of the season: Smith (Northampton); Bruno (Brighton), Morgan (Wigan), Ayala (Middlesbrough), Friend (Middlesbrough); Judge (Brentford), Barton (Burnley), Dack (Gillingham); Roofe (Oxford), Ajose (Swindon), Gray (Burnley).