Maynard left fuming at double pen snub

By Graeme Walsh

NOT TS COUNTY 0

NOTTS COUNTY: Slocombe 7, Macari 7, Platt 8, Bedeau 7, Palmer 7, Gordon 6 (Tsaroulla 64, 6), Abbott 7, Grant 6 (Traore 63, 6), Jarvis 8, Whitaker 7 (Edwards 77, 6), McGoldrick 7. Subs not used: Johnson, Cisse, Hinchy, Morias.

CREWE ALEX’ 0

Att: 10,225 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Martin Woods 5/10

CREWE: Marschall 7, Billington 7, O’Riordan 7, Demetriou 8, Cooney 7 (Sanders 64, 6), Lowery 7, Tabiner 6 (Powell 80, 6), Conway 8, Holicek 7 (Long 65, 6), Thomas 7, Hemmings 6 (Bogle 70, 6). Subs not used: Booth, Roberts, Thibaut.

STUART Maynard blamed two refereeing calls for his Notts County side losing ground in the promotion race following a goalless draw at home to Crewe.

“It wouldn’t fall for us, but I think refereeing decisions have cost us, rather than the lads not taking their chances,” said Maynard.

“I think there are two blatant penalties that just shouldn’t be missed, that everyone in the ground, and everyone watching on TV can see.”

Charlie Whitaker was judged by referee Martin Woods to have dived after a tangle with Crewe goalkeeper Filip Marschall, before Will Jarvis’ appeals were also rejected after the break.

Adding to Maynard and County’s frustration was the fact Whitaker, having been denied a spot-kick, was booked for simulation.

“I think that’s the biggest frustration, not just the penalty, but that [Whitaker] ended up on a yellow card,” said Maynard.

“It meant that every tackle, every niggle – and it was a niggly game – you’re thinking ‘I have to bring him off,’ but you don’t want to because he has goals in him.”

Notts lacked the influence of League Two’s joint top-scorer Alassana Jatta, who has 17 goals this season, but was absent through international duty with Gambia.

“You always miss players when they’re not in,” said Maynard. “In big games like this one, you miss players that have that quality and that ability to turn a game out of nothing.

“At this stage of the season, having your big players that want the big moments and can go and make things happen within games, it’s key.”

County’s David McGoldrick stroked the best chance of the game agonisingly wide of the left post in injury-time, while Will Jarvis had earlier seen an effort batted away by Marschall.

Former County striker

Kane Hemmings lashed wide just before half-time, while in another rare Crewe chance Max Conway forced Sam Slocombe into a full-stretch save with 15 minutes left.

Crewe boss Lee Bell said: “I was disappointed we didn’t create something a little extra in the first half, because I thought our general play was good then.

“In the second half, we didn’t start very well, but I thought the boys stuck up to the task, and they applied themselves really well.

“We didn’t come here to try and be cagey, and I don’t think they did either.”