Steve Evans criticised referee David Webb’s efficiency as Stevenage’s FA Cup run got here to an finish with a 3-1 defeat at Stoke.
The League Two promotion hopefuls had been denied a penalty for handball by Josh Laurent with Stoke holding a slender 2-1 lead, with the Potters awarded a controversial spot-kick of their very own quickly after following Jonathan Tomkinson’s problem on Jacob Brown.
Webb then admitted his mistake on the pitch, in accordance with Evans.
“We don’t get a penalty for a handball and the referee’s excuse is that the hand’s by his side,” the Stevenage boss stated.
“I’ve seen a rerun of it and it’s a penalty.
“And then he gives Stoke City a penalty and that’s never a penalty; it’s a great challenge.
“He then watches the replay as we kick off again and he’s then told my players that he got it wrong.
“How does that motivate my players to come back in a cup tie? Somebody needs to explain that.
“The referee effectively kills the cup tie, but we’re very proud of our efforts in the FA Cup.
“It’s a shocking decision and my players were really hurting with the referee running around saying, ‘I got it wrong’.”
Brown put the hosts forward inside two minutes earlier than Jamie Reid – who scored Stevenage’s winner at Aston Villa within the third spherical – prodded house the equaliser within the second half.
The guests’ celebrations had been lower brief, although, when Laurent fired in from lengthy vary and Lewis Baker transformed the Eightieth-minute penalty.
In the method, Stoke secured back-to-back wins for the primary time since October as they superior to spherical 5.
Boss Alex Neil stated: “It’s job done – they were always going to come and fight for every ball and make it difficult.
“I thought our response to the equaliser was excellent as, at that point, you can feel doubt in yourself, and their fans start to get behind them.
“They had a bit of vigour and belief, but I thought we took that away from them with a wonderful goal from Laurent.
“I thought we merited the win and we’re deservedly through to the next round.
“We’ve spoken a lot about getting a connection with the fans, which is vitally important for any successful team.
“If your fans believe in you, it really is like a 12th man on the pitch at times.
“We want to give them something to shout about and a team they can relate to and be proud of.
“We know we’ve still got a lot of work to do but we’re doing our best to get there as quickly as we can.”
