Late penalty call cost us, rages Bury’s Steven Schumacher

Posted Saturday, March 31, 2018 by PA

Bury first-team coach Steven Schumacher felt his side had been robbed of a point by a poor penalty call as their relegation fears deepened.

The visitors were incensed by referee Lee Collins’ decision to award Bristol Rovers an 85th-minute spot-kick, judging that Ryan Cooney had fouled Kyle Bennett as he looked to cross from the left.

Chris Lines sent Connor Ripley the wrong way from the spot to earn Rovers a 2-1 come-from-behind win and keep their faint play-off hopes alive.

Schumacher said: “I was convinced at the time that Ryan got a toe to the ball before Bennett went across him and fell.

“Having viewed the incident again after the match, I still think that. It was a very soft penalty and the sort of thing that happens when you are bottom of the table.

“I felt we grew into the game and deservedly took the lead with a very well-taken goal from Neil Danns.

“The equaliser was a poor goal from our point of view and resulted from a number of mistakes, so that was disappointing, but we should have taken something from the game.

“We will not give up until it is mathematically impossible for us to avoid relegation. There is a derby against Rochdale to look forward to on Tuesday night and it’s another chance to boost our points tally.”

Danns fired the visitors in front after 54 minutes with a curling right-footed shot from 12 yards after the ball broke to him in a crowded box.

But Rovers were level 11 minutes later when Bennett’s pass set up substitute Dom Telford to fire low past Ripley from inside the area.

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke, celebrating four years in charge this weekend, felt his side were well worth the points.

“It might have been a soft penalty, but we have had plenty of decisions go against us this season,” he said.

“Yet again the lads have battled back from behind to win. We have the best record in all four divisions for doing that, which is testament to the character in the team.

“We had six players unavailable through injury today and I don’t think many League One squads could cope with that.

“There is still a six-point gap to close on the play-off zone with games running out. But all matches are must-win as far as I am concerned so it doesn’t change my approach.

“We will have the lads in tomorrow and travel to Fleetwood on Sunday. Our pitch is heavy and the players will need to recover their energy quickly.”