Johnnie Jackson believes referee Jacob Miles’ decision to rule out an Omar Bugiel equaliser during AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 defeat against Exeter was “ridiculous”.
The visitors took the lead in the 37th minute when Jayden Wareham nodded home Ilmari Niskanen’s superb cross.
Wimbledon thought they had equalised in the 66th minute when the ball bounced into the back of the net following a melee on the Exeter goal line, with Bugiel appearing to get the final touch.
Miles judged that Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth was fouled during the goalmouth scramble.
He also waved away a penalty appeal when Bugiel went down in the area shortly after, leaving Jackson incensed.
“I am frustrated with the result because I think we deserved something from the game,” he said.
“We had the ball in the back of the net, it was a perfectly good goal, we should have had a blatant penalty that he didn’t give so I feel like we have been done by the officials.
“We should definitely come out of that game with something.
“We did everything but score in the second half.
“Well, we do score, but for some reason he decides there is a foul that was non-existent.
“I don’t think, if we played that second half again, that we wouldn’t get what we deserve out of it.
“That’s just the way we are at the minute as a group.
“It’s ridiculous, I’ve just seen it and I made sure I did before I came and spoke to you, there’s no contact whatsoever from Omar Bugiel.
“He gives a push, it’s inexplicable that one.
“That’s a goal at a really good time when we’re in the ascendency.”
The defeat leaves the Dons on a run of nine league games without a win, while the three points moves Exeter out of the League One relegation zone.
Assistant manager Kevin Nicholson said: “The professional in me doesn’t want to consider what the league table looks like right now.
“However, we do know, because we looked at it right away and it’s tight. It can go both ways.
“From our point of view it becomes about who we can get above, who we can chase down and how high up this league can we finish. That’s comes down consistency.
“Yeah it certainly made the trip worth it. I think the lads came here ready.
“The first 10, 20 minutes (were) probably not exactly how we wanted it, I think they came out fighting as we expected them to.
“After that first 20, for the next hour we were really good.
“We controlled the game, we controlled the ball and defended when we needed to defend.
“In the end we showed a huge amount of character to defend.”
