Steve Evans was left fuming at a last-gasp penalty decision that denied Stevenage victory in their 2-2 draw at Port Vale.
The hosts had led through Terence Vancooten’s early own goal but hit back to lead 2-1, Jamie Reid levelling and Vancooten making amends with Boro’s second goal.
But with more than the six minutes of added time played, the assistant referee waved for a handball by Dan Butler and Funso Ojo slammed in the resulting penalty, leaving Evans raging.
“In the first half we were appalling, that’s a kind word for it,” he said. “I think there was a lack of respect from some of our playing staff towards the Port Vale players, and they certainly haven’t got that from me because I know a lot of them personally and I’ve seen them play many times, they’ve outplayed us on three occasions this season.
“We changed it at half-time and got back in the game, scored a couple of good goals, missed some sitters to kill the game and I thought the points were ours.
“Then we’re well over the added time and a cross comes in and the assistant referee gives a penalty – on the video there’s not a chance that’s a penalty. It’s no surprise it’s at the home end with home supporters behind him and behind the goal. It’s an absolutely appalling decision.
“You cannot have an assistant referee get involved like that. I think we’ll be getting an apology but I’m sick of them, I don’t want them. They’re fighting to stay in League One but they won’t get any more help than that.
“It’s a disgraceful decision from the assistant referee. If he’s getting those decisions wrong he shouldn’t be officiating in the Football League. I don’t know his name, I don’t want to know his name but there’s nothing we can do.”
Vale, who parted company with manager Andy Crosby at the start of the week, extended their winless run to six games but joint interim boss Will Ryder was delighted with his players’ efforts.
“It’s a valuable point, it was a rollercoaster of emotions today,” he said. “What I was most pleased with was how the players stuck to the plan, they didn’t deviate around what we’ve worked on, the analysis.
“We stuck to what we knew could work for us, and it was really disappointing not to get three points but I’m delighted that we’ve managed to get something out of the game because we deserved it.
“We had a plan with the staff and we’ve worked really hard on our game plan and our strategy and making sure that we’re going to compete and do the horrible side of things, getting pressure on the ball and winning duels.
“I think we were unlucky not to get more goals than we did and I’m delighted for every single one of them that we’ve swung the momentum.”
Conte slams transfer market timing after comeback Parma win
Antonio Conte was displeased with the transfer market deadline due to potential injury risks after their 2-1 win over Parma.
Debutant Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Andre Zambo Anguissa scored stoppage-time goals to earn the Italian his second victory as Napoli head coach, and provisionally move fourth in the standings.
However, he was concerned about not having squad depth while dealing with last-minute changes made to his team due to the transfer window closing on Friday, leaving him hoping his players can remain fit.
"We take these three points knowing full well that we have to work after this absurdity of the transfer market," Conte told reporters.
"Coaches have to train players who are going to leave and wait for players we've never worked with and don't know in what condition they'll be when they arrive.
"We had zero midfielders on the bench today, as yesterday [Gennaro] Iaccarino and [Coli] Saco went on loan. We had to pray that nothing happened to [Stanislav] Lobotka and Anguissa.
"I hope that things can change in the future, seeing as everyone is ready to change formats and rules."
Conte added he was pleased with Napoli's transfer window, as they added Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour to their ranks on Friday, despite the failure of Victor Osimhen's move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
"We did not just bring in players to build on an existing team but to fill certain empty slots, and I am happy with the work done by the club," he said.
"If we had been able to sell Osimhen, it would've been an even better situation, but what happened cannot be changed, and we move on."
Chicago Fire 1-4 Inter Miami: Suarez on target once more in road win
Luis Suarez scored two and orchestrated another as Inter Miami cruised to a 4-1 win over Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday.
His shot led to the opening own goal before his second-half double put the game out of reach as Miami stretched their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to nine points.
Suarez played a neat one-two with Diego Gomez to set up a strike from the edge of the box, and though Chris Brady did well to save it, he pushed it straight against Tobias Salquist, who chested it over the line 25 minutes in.
The Uruguayan thumped a free header against the bar minutes later, but finally got his reward just after the break – he raced in behind before slotting a neat shot in at the near post.
Alba then picked him out for his second in the 65th minute, fizzing a low cross into the six-yard box for him to guide past Brady.
Gomez was unlucky from distance as his drilled shot hit the inside of the post before Georgios Koutsias' instinctive close-range finish beat Drake Callender.
Substitute Robert Taylor then rounded off the scoring with a lovely first-time finish in stoppage time.
Data Debrief: Suarez continues to step up in Messi's absence
Miami have now been without their talisman Lionel Messi for three months due to the Copa America and an ankle injury, but Suarez has proven once again that they still pose a threat without him.
He has scored four times from a total of 12 shots since MLS resumed, with nine of those coming in this game.
The 37-year-old ran the show, leading the team in expected goals (1.4), shots on target (five), touches in the box (eight) and big chances (four).
Fonseca shrugs off talk of rift with Milan duo
Paulo Fonseca was quick to dismiss talk of any tension with Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, who both appeared to snub him shortly after coming off the bench.
The pair came off the bench to help earn a 2-2 draw with Lazio on Saturday, being brought on in a quadruple change by Fonseca after being left out of the starting line-up.
Milan were losing 2-1 at the time of their introduction, and they immediately turned things around, with Hernandez and debutant Tammy Abraham, another substitute, involved in Leao's equaliser.
Minutes later, the game stopped for a cooling break, with both managers using the opportunity to instruct their players, but both Leao and Hernandez remained on the far side of the pitch, taking no part in the team talk.
"The situation with Theo and Leao, there is no problem and I think Theo has already explained," Fonseca told DAZN.
"We don't need to create any problems. This week I spoke with the players and they accepted my decision. There is no problem, I was concentrated, and I didn't see that they weren't there."
Hernandez had already given his reasons immediately after the game.
"We had been on for two minutes, we didn't need the cooling break," Hernandez said.
"It was nothing against the team and the coach. Then people talk, say things that aren't true. Rafa and I are always with the team to help, and that is the important thing."
Milan are still without a league win this season after three games, but Fonseca says he saw a decent performance in the opening half, giving him something to work on.
"We had a good first half. We always managed the game well with the ball. When you control the game like this, we have to have more moments to become dangerous, but it's something we have to work on," Fonseca told Milan TV.
"We must always have the courage we had in the first half because we did good things. If we had won the other two games, this could have been a good result, but it is not so. But we have to start from today's first half."
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