The Manager's Thoughts - Dorking Wanderers

Here's what Manager James Bracken had to say following the 2-0 loss at Dorking Wanderers.

Never in a million years did we deserve to lose 2-0. We’ve ended up playing with nine men today. We’ll take a certain amount of responsibility for that but the referee has had a stinker of an afternoon.

He told me at half time, unequivocally that he was going to book seven of my players in the second half. He said this in front of his assistants. And they’re supposed to be impartial?

Mu’s sending off; the referee consulted his assistant who apparently only said ‘eight-off’ [alluding to Mu Maan’s shirt number]. They didn’t even discuss the incident, such as what was happening around. Was there cover? What was his next touch going to be? There was nothing more said than ‘eight-off’.

That’s a massive decision in a crucial part of the game and they don’t even discuss it?

It’s a joke decision though. It’s on the corner of the penalty area with a covering defender and he’s never going to score from where the foul is committed. He’s not the last man, he’s not in the middle of the goal, so why is he sending him off?

Jordan’s sending off – there’s a lunge on him in the build-up and he doesn’t give the free kick. He lets him run into another tackle where two players have tangled. He’s booked both of them for it – and it was only a tangle. Jordan’s clearly said something in frustration and he’s sent him off. The referee has taken great delight in being the star of the show and sending three players off today.

But getting back to us, we were fantastic. I said in the group huddle just now, you can play like wimps or you can play like warriors. We turned up today and played superb. Okay – we didn’t get three points but sometimes there’s more to football than just three points. That’s what that was today. Absolutely superb.

Play like that every week and we’ll win most weeks. Dorking are a good side but they got away with one today, and if they’re honest, they know that too. It would’ve been nice for everyone to have seen eleven-a-side though.