Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson feels last-gasp Bolton winner was ‘very cruel’

Posted Sunday, October 27, 2024 by PA

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson was on the wrong end of a stoppage-time goal as substitute Klaidi Lolos fired Bolton to a dramatic 1-0 victory.

Ferguson claimed Lolos’s first goal for Wanderers should have been disallowed for handball after Nicholas Bilokapic had saved Dion Charles’ late penalty and follow-up header.

Fourth official Dale Baines had indicated a minimum of six minutes of stoppage time, leaving the Posh boss, who had father Sir Alex Ferguson watching from the stands, furious at the final whistle.

“The game can be very cruel as it showed with the last kick of the ball and the way we lost that game,” said Ferguson.

“The standard and quality of officials is what we are up against as managers, as players, as fans.

“Watching it back, the linesman has to stand on the line to see if there is any infringement.

“Charles made the kick, Nick saved it and he (the assistant referee) ran back so he can’t see anything. I can’t believe what I was watching.

“If he stands where he is it is handball and he gives a foul. The standard is miles away.

“Bolton are a good team and will be in the top six with the money they have spent and the amount of players they have got.

“We deserved a clean sheet and it has taken the referee’s awful decision – not the penalty so much – but after that and before that in terms of the time.”

While Posh came within a whisker of just a first goalless draw since last January, they were second best for large parts of an entertaining clash.

George Johnston – fouled for the last gasp spot-kick – and Victor Adeboyejo missed headed chances.

And when Wanderers did hit the target Bilokapic pulled off a string of outstanding saves, with Aaron Collins and Charles notably denied.

Having completed his three-game touchline ban, Bolton boss Ian Evatt took the post-game press conference.

“Last-second goals are why we love this game.” said Evatt, who was sent off after the final whistle against Shrewsbury for initially protesting about a lack of stoppage time.

“Sometimes in football you don’t always get what you deserve but today we got what we deserved.

“That was a performance which resembled what we have created in the last four or five years.

“It would have been easy for them to feel sorry for themselves in the last few minutes with the chances we have missed.

“But we kept going and kept believing.

“And we should have had one or two more penalties. Some of the holding and grappling which was persistent and facing away from the ball could have been punished.

“The last one was definitely a penalty. But I am not going to sit here with any negativity.

“I am just pleased the players executed that performance. It was important post-Birmingham to react to a defeat with a victory.”