Swindon manager Ian Holloway went on the offensive after masterminding a 3-0 win that pushed Bristol Rovers counterpart Darrell Clarke to the brink at the Memorial Stadium.
The former Rovers boss launched an astonishing attack in the direction of referee Aaron Banister for sending-off goalscorer Aaron Drinan for two bookable offences in a one-sided game.
As Clarke was left facing the sack following a club record-extending 10th consecutive league defeat, Holloway blasted the official after Drinan was booked for goading Rovers fans and then for simulation.
“I enjoyed the calibre of our goals and I enjoyed the tenacity we showed but I feel the win has been spoiled,” Holloway said.
“To be honest, our win has been completely tarnished and I don’t understand what the game is coming to.
“From my point of view, where you score a brilliant finish like that, it’s an absolutely unbelievable goal and your supporters are right down the other end.
“You get booked for celebrating and I know we were warned about that at the start but that didn’t seem right.
“In the second half we should have had two clear penalties, completely and utterly. One handball that I’ve never seen anything like it – where he took the lace out of the ball.
“That’s another penalty on Aaron Drinan and he gets another yellow, which you can’t go against.
“I’m going to lose him for, I don’t know, however many games, when I think the referee’s made a terrible mistake.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Where do I go? What do I say? How can I get to this and get this right? It’s so frustrating. I’ll be on to the League Managers’ Association.
“I’ll probably be in trouble for what I’ve said. I don’t really care. I think it’s absolutely an abomination. It’s totally ruined the game for me.”
Holloway also had a go at the travelling supporters for over-celebrating victory which saw Joe Snowdon break the deadlock with a long-range shot after 16 minutes.
“Our fans do things that I’m not proud of as well,” Holloway added. “What are we doing? Chucking things on the pitch? What are they called? Flares?
“What are we doing? So, totally been spoiled in a funny way. But the team has done me proud and has done us proud.”
Skipper Ollie Clarke doubled the Robins’ lead with a near-post header following Finley Munroe’s corner.
Drinan curled in the third shortly afterwards before Rovers had centre-back Kacper Lopata sent off for a reckless challenge on Gavin Kilkenny. Drinan followed him for an early bath after the break.
Neither Darrell Clarke nor his players took part in post-match media activity, with a formal announcement believed to be imminent that his second spell as Rovers manager has been ended by the club’s owners amid deepening relegation fears.
