Shrewsbury to appeal against Edwards dismissal

Posted Sunday, February 10, 2019 by PA

Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts plans to appeal against the late sending-off of substitute Dave Edwards as a feisty League One relegation battle with Bristol Rovers ended 1-1 at the Memorial Stadium.

Not only did Ricketts deem Edwards’ challenge on Chris Lines in a midfield skirmish five minutes from time a fair one, he also claimed Rovers should have had two players red-carded before the incident.

He said: “It felt like the world was against us at times. Decisions went against us and in the end I am pleased to come out with a well-earned point.

“They had two players on yellow cards who should have been sent off for further offences. Then the referee gets carried away with the moment and shows a red card to Dave Edwards.

“It was never a sending-off and we have to appeal it. There were a lot of things I didn’t like.”

Ricketts claimed: “Greg Docherty had to be taken to the eye hospital with some bleeding and the vehicle he was in had things thrown at it on the way out of the ground.

“We played well in the first half and controlled the game. I’m disappointed to concede a goal from a set-piece, but the lads really showed their hunger in the closing stages and it’s a good result for us.”

Shrewsbury took a 36th minute lead when Shaun Whalley, making his first start since a long-term injury, played a one-two with Josh Laurent on the left corner of the box and advanced to see his right-footed shot deflect past Jack Bonham.

But Rovers hit back eight minutes into the second half. Chris Lines delivered a free-kick from the right into the box and Alex Rodman was given yards of space to equalise with a powerful header.

It was a fair result to a scrappy game both sides were desperate to win. Referee Peter Wright found it hard to keep control at times and neither camp was happy with his performance.

Rovers boss Graham Coughlan said: “I felt for the ref because he is inexperienced and it is up to the authorities to appoint more senior officials for games with so much at stake.

“When players know they can influence a referee they will do everything to take advantage and in the end it wasn’t an easy match to handle.

“But that was partly due to decisions made early on. We want to help referees and I don’t want it to be all about him because we need to focus on our own performance.

“We weren’t good enough in the first half and I had to put some things right at the interval. The second half display was better, but if I am honest I don’t think we deserved more than a draw.

“Shrewsbury were in our faces from the start and we took time to handle that.”