Kevin Nolan thinks Notts County were denied penalty in draw with Newport

Posted Sunday, February 18, 2018 by PA

Notts County manager Kevin Nolan thought his side were denied a stonewall penalty during their 0-0 draw with Newport.

Magpies striker Ben Hall was shoved in the back late on and Nolan believes the referee should have pointed to the spot.

“We had a blatant penalty at the end when Ben was pushed hard in the back by one of their lads,” he said.

“He’s pushed him in the back and he hasn’t given a penalty. You need those things to go for you but I am delighted with the clean sheet and delighted with the point.

“When the referee keeps saying he got this decision and that decision wrong what can you do. You either sit there and hammer him for it or you just laugh because you can’t believe what you’ve just seen.

“The fourth official actually said thank you (for) not giving him a tough afternoon so I think that shows that we are right.

“We all know the referees work hard and try their best to do their job but they’ve got to get professionals in because it will help them and help us.”

The visitors created the first real opportunity when Jon Stead poked wide at the near post.

Shawn McCoulsky came close for the home side but his shot was blocked by Magpies captain Richard Duffy.

The Exiles’ best chance of the first half came when Padraig Amond found himself one on one with the keeper but his shot went over.

Newport captain Joss Labadie had a goal disallowed early in the second period after visiting keeper Adam Collin was fouled.

Exiles keeper Joe Day was forced into a vital save when he knocked Lewis Alessandra’s powerful shot over the bar.

The visitors thought they should have been awarded a penalty in the dying moments but had to settle for a draw.

Newport manager Michael Flynn laughed off Nolan’s suggestions.

“He’s going to say it should have been a penalty but I thought we should have had one in the first minute when Podge [Padraig Amond] was fouled,” he said.

“If he thinks it was a penalty that’s up to him but thankfully the referee didn’t agree with him.

“It was a great reaction from the players and it was a game I thought we edged but, let’s be honest, it wasn’t a very good spectacle.

“It was a tough, battling performance and that’s something we didn’t do on Tuesday so I’m very pleased with the reaction I’ve got from the players.”