Rovers To Report Ref

Rovers will report the ref following a game of incorrect decisions for both sides.

The referee set his standard after three minutes when Amankwaah's cross took a deflection off Coppinger to go behind the goalline. The merry whistle blower award a goal kick! This was the first of many baffling decisions.

Bates then went on to make simple errors, although the problem seemed catching when the assistant referee signalled for a free kick to Swansea after the Swansea defender ran into his own keeper. Bate's made a number of shocking decisions for both sides, missing fouls, hand balls and shirt pulling. He appeared to have no control over the game and lacked fitness, huffing and puffing up and down the field, always too far behind play. When he did get up with play his positional sense was awful, getting in the way of players running forward.

Uncharacteristically for Dave Penney, he called the ref over mid way through the game to share his thoughts, and perhaps asked for an explanation on some of the decisions.

It has to be stressed that Bates showed no bias to either team, he was just consistently inept for both sides.

Unfortunately Rovers paid the price, when Bates missed two hand-balls by Trundle in the build up to his first goal. The ref then failed to spot a push on Roberts and an elbow into the back of Lockwood's head, both which should have resulted in a penalty.

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