WARNING SHOT: Duane Darby has warned his players their performance against Corby was unacceptable.
DUANE Darby has warned his Bromsgrove Rovers players that poor officiating was no excuse for their "abysmal" performance against Corby Town.
The 2-0 loss was only the second defeat of Darby's reign, but it was costly as goalkeeper Karl Lewis was controversially dismissed for hand ball outside the penalty area, while the Greens' caretaker boss was sent to the stands for his protests.
Darby apologised to the club's supporters for his second dismissal in the space of four weeks, but revealed he will complain to the Football Association about the standard of officiating.
However, he admitted it would be wrong to blame the defeat soley on Lewis' red card.
Corby also lost their goalkeeper Martin Davies through injury and were forced to put midfielder Ian Nimmo in goal, but Rovers failed to provide him with a real test.
Darby said: "The performance was basically not good enough.
advertisement
"To say they have had an hour without a proper keeper and we have not had a shot is embarrassing.
"Going forward we were abysmal.
"I am the manager and I have got to take the blame for that.
"It was an absolutely woeful performance from the referee.
"But the officials didn't cost us three points, they cost us a point.
"I couldn't see them scoring and I couldn't see us scoring.
"A horrible, boring, rubbish 0-0 should have been the result."
Darby conceded that he is facing a touchline ban after dismissals against Corby and Chippenham.
But he believes that the FA should act after poor refereeing decisions cost his side crucial points in their last two games.
"Over the two games it has cost us three points," he said.
"Straight away I looked at the referee and he put both hands down and waved play on.
"How the linesman can see handball I don't know.
"They will ban me no doubt.
"If I get punished then the officials should get punished as well.
"I apologise to the fans and the club for getting sent off again.
"But I am passionate and it really gets my back up.
"It gets me frustrated on the sidelines."
Now Darby is demanding his side produce the perfect response to Saturday's defeat, when they travel to Tiverton Town in the British Gas Business Premier Division this weekend.
Kevin Banner (tendonitis), Andy Jones and Chris Duggan (both hamstring) are major doubts for the clash, while the Greens are also sweating on the fitness of striker Richard Ball.
However, influential midfielder Sam Alsop is set to return from illness.
Rovers are also hoping to add some much needed firepower to their squad, but their move for Halesowen's Nick Amos has been thrown into doubt as rivals Redditch United have tried to gatecrash the deal.
"We are trying very hard to get forwards in but it is proving very difficult at the moment," Darby added.
"Everyone wants them and that is why they are so hard to get hold of.
"Saturday is a must win game. We owe this football club and the fans a performance."
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
