Mowbray blasts referee Ward as 'really poor' during Luton draw

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray described referee Gavin Ward’s performance as ‘really poor’ following his side’s 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

The visitors' manager felt that the experienced official got two big decisions wrong in particular late in the game as attacker Adam Armstrong appeared to be impeded by full back Rhys Norrington-Davies when racing through on Simon Sluga’s goal.

Nothing was given on that occasion and Mowbray was further incensed in stoppage time as Ben Brereton went over Martin Cranie’s outstretched foot on the edge of the box, only to surprisingly see a yellow for diving.

Speaking afterwards, Mowbray said: “I don’t know, sometimes it feels as the manager you’re looking for things, that’s why I was asking, is it me? Was that a booking on Brereton? Was Armstrong running through one-on-one with the goalie and got brought down?

“It doesn't matter, it’s finished now, the score’s 1-1 and it’s in the history books, we have to put up with it.

“I’m not sure what the accountability of officials is in the league, I don't know who looks at their decisions and thinks 'what are you doing?'

"Because I’m shouting from the sidelines, ‘what are you doing?’

“I try not to be biased if I didn't think it was a free kick or I didn't think a different action would be taken, I just think there was a lot of stuff that I was having to shout at today that I felt was wrong.”

Asked in particular about the yellow card shown to Brereton for simulation, Mowbray continued: "I was 70 yards away and I could hear the contact, he was dribbling that fast.

“I don't want to talk about the referee, he was really poor today, I don't know whether it was in the box or out of the box I haven't seen it back, but it was never a dive.

"I know my players and Ben Brereton doesn't dive when he's running through like that.

"I thought he started the game poorly, the referee, and he finished the game poorly, and was poorly in between."

The Rovers chief was also disappointed not to leave Bedfordshire with his side's first ever league victory under their belts as well, adding: "We're disappointed we didn't get the three points.

“Respect to Luton, I think they stayed up last season by the skin of their teeth, they’re very well organised, they carry a threat, but ultimately we’re disappointed.

"After they scored, our intensity levels rose to the levels they should normally be at, we got the goal back and really should have scored again.

"We had some great opportunities to score, some strange refereeing decision didn’t help our cause, but it's another point in the bag and we move on."