Notts County Manager Shaun Derry had plenty to talk about after his side’s 3-0 defeat away to Swindon Town on Saturday.
Derry’s side had matched their high-flying opponents throughout the first half and went into the interval level at 0-0, but a John Swift goal shortly before the hour mark and a highly controversial penalty shortly after swung the game in Swindon’s favour and set them on the way to victory.
Talking shortly after the final whistle, Derry said: “I’m not too sure where to start to be honest. I’ve just looked at the goals there. It’s disappointing obviously, conceding three goals away from home, but the second goal I’ve just looked at it again four or five times, it’s never a penalty, 100 percent never a penalty.
“It just changes the whole complex of the afternoon. I know they’re a good side and they played well today, but the second goal absolutely killed us and we couldn’t recover.
“In my eyes it was a decision that was probably helped by the crowd’s reaction on the far side,” he added.
A further moment of controversy followed towards the end of the game, when midfielder Liam Noble was shown two yellow cards in quick succession following an incident with match referee Gavin Ward.
“I can’t stand here and back the player, it wouldn’t be right,” Derry said of the dismissal. “He’s got himself sent off for the third time this season and that’s unacceptable.
“He was reacting to some sort of a movement, manoeuvre of one of the officials, but ultimately he’s got himself sent off and he misses another game for us and I can’t stand here and back him up, I can’t.”
Overall, Derry admitted that it had been a bad day for his side, but was keen to switch the focus to next weekend, when Notts play host to Bradford City at Meadow Lane.
“I’m disappointed that we’ve not been able to back up what was a very dominant display on Tuesday night and three points, but once again we have to look forward and we’ve got a big, almighty game coming up next Saturday against a team that’s had a fantastic season as yet,” he continued.
“I’m looking forward to it and I’ve just said to the boys there, the games come so thick and fast that you can’t really get too low on disappointments, because there’s always that opportunity to redeem yourself.”
Subscribers can watch the full post-match interview with Shaun Derry on Magpie Player.