WATCH: Crawley Town boss Scott Lindsey 'angry' at officials after booking means key midfielder misses final games of League Two season
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Emile Acquah got the first goal of the game after he got up above the defenders and headed the ball past Crawley number 1 Corey Addai, before Danilo Orsi held his nerve and scored a penalty to level the score.
This could prove a big point for Crawley in their hunt for a play-off place, but they will have to do it without midfielder Jay Williams, after he received his 15th booking of the season, which means he is suspended for the remaining two fixtures.
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Hide AdAfter the match, an angry Lindsey said: “I’m really disappointed with the booking of Jay, he fourth official gets him booked and I just don’t understand it. Jeremy (Kelly) makes the foul and he books Jay.”
Williams was booked after he made a challenge on a Barrow player, but it was Jeremy Kelly’s foul which was given as a free kick in favour of the away team.
Lindsey said: “Jeremy makes the foul, and the referee has not blown the whistle for a foul. Jay comes in and wins the tackle and then he blows for a foul, but its then Jeremy who makes the foul. Why are we booking Jay? And the fourth official is standing right there.”
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With the season nearing its end, each decision is key and especially for Crawley, who want to finish in the play-offs, these decisions are huge and need to be right.
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Hide AdLindsey said: "The importance of this game is massive for both clubs, yet he’s made a decision that has affected me moving forward in the next two games, and it is the wrong decisions, and I can go in there and moan about it, but nothing will be done and that’s the thing for me.”
“The repercussions is he misses two games now, the two biggest games of this football club’s history.”
Lindsey goes on to praise Williams on how good and important for the club he is, but also backs his squad to fill in for him. He said: “He’s probably been arguably my best player, he’s a rock in the middle of the park and he’s done so well for me, yet he can’t play in these next two games now.
“I think he’s unlucky, I think the referee’s targeted him and I think that’s a prime example of that, it's unfair on the kid. I’ve got other players that are very good as well.”
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Hide AdThe Crawley Town manager calls out for referees to be professional and to work full time at this level so less of these mistakes occur. He said: “We’re dealing with these situations every week, every Saturday, every Tuesday, every game there is a situation with a referee.
“I feel really strongly about it because we’re full time, this is our job. The person who has probably made that decision will be a painter or a decorator no doubt, and no disrespects to painter’s and decorators.
“There’s that much money in the Premier League and in the game, why are they not full time? The standards are not good enough, in my opinion.”
The Reds will make the short trip to South London to play Sutton United this Saturday, with three points desperately needed by both teams at the different ends of the table.