Pete Wild gave a damning verdict in his criticism of the referee Bobby Madley after his Fleetwood side were pegged back deep into stoppage time during their 1-1 draw with Port Vale.
Wild, serving the first of a three-game touchline ban, watched as Ryan Graydon put his Cod Army side 1-0 up nine minutes from time.
However, Madley awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of added-on time and Lorent Tolaj slotted in to grab a point for Vale, which extended their unbeaten run in 2025.
Wild left no stone unturned in his opinion on Madley’s performance and felt Fleetwood denied a penalty of their own towards the end of stoppage time.
“I’ve watched it back five times and I don’t know how he hasn’t given that,” he fumed.
“They’re all right when they’re throwing suspensions around, but what they are paid to do is make big decisions and yet again they’re not making big decisions. And you wonder why staff and players get so frustrated with them.
“We were doing really well at seeing the game out after we scored and then sadly we gave a penalty away for a high foot.
“I do think it was a pen, but right after that we should have had one with the last kick of the game.
“I think I’m generally quite balanced with what I say, but their player had two arms around Rhys Bennett even before the foul so you’ve got to question the decision.
“What’s he doing if he can’t make decisions like that? I’m infuriated. I’ve had to take a punishment this week, but is it any wonder why we get frustrated when all you’re asking for is referees to do their jobs?
“It’s just another decision to them, but it’s cost us. I feel very, very aggrieved that we haven’t got a penalty at the end.
“Last week’s draw was a point gained, but I think that’s two lost today.”
Port Vale boss Darren Moore had mixed feelings after the draw.
“There was nothing really in it and where I thought we probably could have done a little bit more was when we got into the final third.
“We just needed that little bit more conviction, which we’d spoken about at half-time.
“Obviously, we came here to try and get the three points, but nearly ended up losing them and probably in the end earned a point.
“I don’t think there’s any fear element to our game at all. We are getting the conviction from the players and trusting and believing in them, and they’re getting into good areas and making the opportunities.
“We got into a lot of threatening areas, and probably just that final cross, the shot, the final contact on the ball is what was eluding us.
“The positive thing is we are getting into those positions. We’ve got conviction and belief from the players and what we will do is continue to work in a training ground, because all that stuff when you improving comes from the training ground. And so that’s what we have to do really – continue doing that.
“One thing the group has got down is lots of character, lots of resilience, and we’ve seen that in abundance this season so far.”
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to tak...
David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...
Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...
David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...
Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...
Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...
Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...
Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...
Kieran McKenna was not getting too giddy dreaming of a miracle escape from relegation after Ipswich beat Bournemouth 2-1 to pick up their first Premier League win of 2025.Goals from Nathan Broadhead and top-scorer Liam Delap did the damage as Ipswich put a further dent in Bournemouth’s hopes of qualifying for Europe.McKenna, whose side are still nine points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves who t...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender