Neil Aspin fumes at ‘diabolical’ refereeing as Port Vale lose to Crawley
Posted Sunday, April 08, 2018 by PA
Neil Aspin fumed at referee Michael Jones after Port Vale’s four-match unbeaten run was ended by Crawley.
The home side led through Tom Pope’s 20th-minute strike but Jones’ decision to award a penalty nine minutes later, when Panutche Camara went down under Nathan Smith’s challenge, infuriated the Port Vale manager.
Josh Payne scored the resulting spot-kick and Smith’s own goal with eight minutes left secured the visitors a 2-1 win.
Aspin said: “I’m not going to sit on the fence, it’s an absolute disgrace of a decision.
“The refereeing today and the running of the game was diabolical. It was not acceptable at all.
“It changed the whole flow of the game.
“I asked the fourth official and he said (Jones is) not used to this league. So why is he refereeing such an important game at this level?”
Aspin was inconsolable after his side’s defeat, which left the Valiants seven points clear of safety.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” he added. “It’s the worst I’ve felt since I’ve been here.
“I thought the team played some good football in the first half and should have been more than one goal up.”
The Vale manager also lamented the loss of Christian Montano, who was injured around the hour mark and Crawley’s winner came down the left-hand side.
Aspin added: “We just can’t afford to lose him, he was the best player on the pitch. And then we have to make a change and ultimately we concede down his wing.”
Crawley manager Harry Kewell felt his side’s 2-1 away victory over Port Vale showed the club’s progression this season.
Kewell’s men were on the end of a 3-1 reversal to the same opposition on the opening day.
“This shows how far we have come,” said the former Liverpool and Leeds winger.
“We lost in the first game of the season to these and you can just see the progression we have made as a team.
“I didn’t feel threatened, I felt we were strong and powerful and I felt comfortable.”
Crawley’s first win since February 17 leaves them eight points off the play-off places with four games to play.
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