Triple whammy

SO CLOSE . . . Freddie Ladapo (grounded) hits the crossbar late on in Saturday's game with Latics trailing 3-2. PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH

STEPHEN Robinson lamented being on the wrong side of three penalty calls as Athletic experienced defeat in the league for the first time since the opening day of the season.

Athletic's manager could not believe that referee Andy Haines waved away appeals as his skipper Peter Clarke fell backwards in the area under contact from Adam El-Abd in the first half.

By that stage, his side were 1-0 up against Shrewsbury, who were later awarded a penalty in similar circumstances.

Clarke tumbled again in the box in the second half after another grappling match with El-Abd and given the new directives to match officials to punish holding and pulling, the post-match talk circulated around inconsistencies.

"I have been in football a long time," said a frustrated Robinson, after the 3-2 defeat in which Ousmane Fane was dismissed in the second half after collecting two bookings.

"If someone is about to score, is pushed on top of the ball and lands on top of it, why would they choose to fall over?

"If you have played the game, you understand. If you have a free shot from four yards out, why would you do that? You have to make your mind up on that.

"We are not allowed to show them (referees) any footage or speak to them.

"I admit they have a really difficult job and the new rules are baffling everyone.

"One week they are given, the next week they are not.

"One was given against us at Bradford and one was given against us against Shrewsbury and two were not given.

"Everyone in the stands saw what happened, but there is no point me commenting on it and picking up a fine."

Athletic paid the price for letting their guard down before and after half-time, but following Fane's red card - a one-match ban means he will sit out the home game against Chesterfield on Saturday - Robinson was pleased with the spirit and drive shown to try and nick a point.

"We showed character. Down to 10 men, we got back to 3-2 and hit the crossbar," added Robinson, who saw Freddie Ladapo go within a few inches of claiming a point. "Darius (Osei) had one cleared off the line as well where he should have scored, if we are being totally honest.

"There was a lot of good forward play and the attitude and commitment the boys have to what we are trying to do is a massive positive."

Cameron Dummigan, who signed for Athletic on a permanent deal last week, played the full game as Northern Ireland were beaten 1-0 at home by Iceland in a UEFA Under-21s Championship qualifier on Friday.

Dummigan is in action again in Macedonia tomorrow night but could feature against the Spireites.