Cooper unhappy with Rawson red as Forest Green held by Port Vale
Posted Sunday, September 09, 2018 by PA
Forest Green Rovers boss Mark Cooper felt Farrend Rawson’s red card was harsh in their 1-1 draw at home to Port Vale.
Rovers took the lead in the first half through Carl Winchester’s header but Vale equalised when Tom Pope netted from the penalty spot, a decision Cooper didn’t want to speak about.
Rawson was sent off two minutes after Pope’s 75th penalty and the Rovers boss wasn’t happy with some of the decisions.
“He (Rawson) doesn’t need to go for the ball but he’s made an attempt to win the ball 70 yards from goal,” said Cooper. “If that’s a straight red, then there’s a horrendous challenge on Liam Shephard right in front of the dugout that for me is more of a red card than that one.
“I’m not going to comment at all on the penalties, there’s obviously an issue the so I’d rather not comment.”
Cooper’s side are still unbeaten but have now drawn five of their seven games, but he felt his side let the visitors grow into the match.
“It wasn’t our best performance,” he added. “We gave too much cheap possession away, our better, more technical players turned the ball over and we were too casual today.
“At the end of the first half and the start of the second we handed Port Vale the impetus but we’re still 1-0 up and that’s four games 1-0 up and we need to learn how to win 1-0 because that could have easily been eight points.”
“We gambled, we wanted to win. We kept two up front, three at the back and four in midfield to create chances and we need to take one of those chances because they were really good chances.”
Port Vale manager Neil Aspin believed his side thoroughly deserved a point.
He said: “It’s a good point but I think we deserved all three. I thought we started the game well and passed it better today. To be fair to the players it was really positive in the second half.
“I think we should have had another penalty for handball, before the penalty that was given for the foul on Ricky Miller.
“This is only a point but does lift some pressure after three successive away defeats. We’re not winning games but the crowd were behind the team and if we give them the effort and desire they’ll back the team but we played a good side today who are unbeaten.”
Miller came on in the second half and it was a change which helped turn the tide.
“He’s been very effective when he’s come on,” added Aspin. So now do we start him, do we bring him on but every time he comes on and does well it brings confidence so the more confident we can get him the more we’ll see of him. “
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