I've had my pocket picked

Last updated : 28 September 2003 By Tony Scholes

Stan was happy enough with the way we played yesterday but one again found himself talking about referees after Mark Warren sent off Burnley captain David May for hand ball, a second yellow card.

"I don’t want to end up talking about the officials all the time but it seems like we are doing that every week now. It’s two points lost for us today and I feel like I’ve had my pocket picked.

"To be sent off it should be deliberate hand ball, I thought those were the ruled of the game and May’s handball was not deliberate.

"It was definitely the turning point of the match because were were coasting and in complete control and there is no doubt that we would have gone on to win the match quite comfortably. But we’ll just have to grin and bear it.

"Some people got caught up in the occasion but it’s not right. There wasn’t a bad tackle in the game and football is a contact sport. People want to see a game eleven against eleven.

"I really am lost for words but perhaps the occasion was just too much for the officials, I don’t know.

"We’ll look on the bright side though and I thought we played quite well and were definitely in the ascendancy. You’d expect them to have the odd attack but then the sending off changed the course of the game. Let’s be fair, we battered them,"