'Both were dubious': Despondent Neil Critchley questions Blackpool's sending-offs in miserable defeat to AFC Wimbledon

A despondent Neil Critchley was left questioning two “dubious” decisions from the referee in Blackpool’s 1-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon.
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AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Blackpool: Seasiders inexplicably end the game with NINE men a...

A despondent Neil Critchley was left questioning two “dubious” decisions from the referee in Blackpool’s 1-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

The Seasiders inexplicably ended the game with nine men after both Ethan Robson and Dan Ballard were shown straight reds - making it four dismissals for the season already.

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Wimbledon were already a goal ahead by that point, Callum Reilly handing them the lead after just 13 minutes.

The defeat, Blackpool’s sixth in just nine league games, means they’re now without an away win in 406 days.

“Where do you start with that game? It was an absolute rollercoaster of a game,” Critchley told The Gazette.

“I’m really disappointed with the goal we conceded, I thought it was a really easy goal we gave away.

Neil Critchley speaks to the officials after the full-time whistleNeil Critchley speaks to the officials after the full-time whistle
Neil Critchley speaks to the officials after the full-time whistle
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“That can’t keep happening, we can’t keep chasing games especially when we’re away from home against a team that doesn’t concede many goals.

“Having said that, we began to gain control of the game and then the sending off happens and it changes the course of the next hour or so.

“I thought we were very good with 10 men and probably just as good if not better with nine man.

“The application and the attitude of the players was first class. They went right until the end and we had one or two opportunities to equalise.

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“If you take one of them, I’m probably standing here talking about what a great point it was away from home and the fantastic spirit, but unfortunately we didn’t.”

Robson was the first to be sent his marching orders, referee Sam Purkiss brandishing a straight red following a 50-50 with Wimbledon’s goalscorer Reilly.

With the Seasiders chasing the game late on, Ballard was then also dismissed for an innocuous-looking collision with Shane McLoughlin.

“I’d have to see both incidents again, but I thought both were dubious,” Critchley said.

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“The first one was a real honest challenge from Ethan. He’s obviously overran the ball and he’s stretching, but the referee has said he’s gone over the top of the ball but to me it looks like he wins the ball and maybe with his follow-through he catches him.

“When you’ve got forward momentum, that’s always going to happen, so I’m not sure it was a sending off.

“The second one, I didn’t actually see that one despite it being right in front of me. I followed the play instead.

“The player has gone down, he’s got up and there doesn’t seem to be a lot wrong with him. Maybe we’ve fallen into the trap there a little bit. I thought Danny Ballard was otherwise excellent and I feel really sorry for him.”

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Critchley marched over to the man in charge straight after the full-time whistle, but the Pool boss said he didn’t actually bring up the dismissals.

“I didn’t really ask him about the sending offs, I think you know what the answer is going to be. I was actually asking him about the three minutes of injury time,” he said.

“With the substitutions and the sendings offs, I just found it baffling, absolutely baffling to be honest with you.

“I didn’t ask him about the red cards because I’m not sure I was going to get the answers I was looking for.

“It was a strange performance I thought.”