Mark Cooper claims referees ‘don’t like Forest Green’ after draw with Swindon

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Forest Green manager Mark Cooper claimed referees do not like his side and felt Rovers were denied a penalty in their 1-1 West Country derby draw with Swindon.

The home side had a host of chances but were unable to make their superiority count by claiming the three points, after Christian Doidge’s early opener was quickly cancelled out by Michael Doughty’s penalty.

Cooper was unhappy that referee Andy Davies did not award the hosts their own spot-kick after Reuben Reid appeared to have been fouled in the penalty area in the 33rd minute.

“It’s a blatant penalty but we just don’t get these decisions,” Cooper said.

“They obviously don’t like Forest Green. We can’t do anything about that, we just have to keep playing our football.

“With the host of chances we created we don’t want to have to rely on referees because they don’t like us.

“I’m disappointed because we deserved to win. We looked really solid at the back and created lots of chances for different players.

“We played in a diamond today and looked to attack. I said to the players you will score in the first five minutes today. But it’s what you do after that in managing the game, which we didn’t do.

“We have to be more clinical and score more than one goal. We can’t keep relying on Christian Doidge, other players have to chip in. Farrend Rawson has got his head to several corners today but not hit the target.”

Doidge opened the scoring in the fifth minute after a well-worked move saw Liam Shephard’s cross fall to Reece Brown, whose shot was diverted in by the striker.

Swindon hit back in the 11th minute after Keshi Anderson was fouled by Forest Green goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and Doughty converted the spot-kick.

Both sides struck a post and had further chances to win it, but neither could make the breakthrough.

Swindon manager Phil Brown said: “I don’t know if it was a good performance. The first 20 minutes they were the better team without a shadow of a doubt.

“After 30 minutes we decided to change to 4-3-3 and it arrested the situation.

“I was delighted to get in at half-time 1-1. We could have lost the game but we also could have won it.

“They had most of the possession and we both had great chances. (Goalkeeper Lawrence) Vigouroux was outstanding in goal for us.

“It’s not just little Forest Green here, they have a big budget.

“The lads showed great character today, the centre-backs put their bodies on the line and that’s the performance I want from my centre-halves. I just want more quality in the final third.”