Rovers boss accuses Luton attacker of diving to win Town a penalty

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann accused Luton midfielder Kasey Palmer of diving to win a penalty during last night’s 3-1 victory for the Hatters at Kenilworth Road.

With the scores goalless and a minute to go until half time, Palmer, who had caused visiting full back Jamie Sterry no end of problems in the first half, the ex-Newcastle youngster already booked for hauling him back in the opening minutes, burst into the box once more. He got the better of the full back yet again, before, despite taking what appeared a heavy touch that was sending the ball out play, went down claiming a spotkick, referee Matthew Russell agreeing and pointing to the spot.

On first view, it looked like a dubious call, although a replay did show that the defender clearly had hold of Palmer’s shirt, and was lucky to avoid being sent off for what would have been his second yellow. Callum Marshall crashed home from 12 yards to break Doncaster’s resistance, as a far more open second half saw Jamie Donley produce two finishes of unerring quality, meaning Bayley McCann’s late looping header was a mere consolation.

However, when speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield afterwards, Rovers chief Grant McCann made it clear what he thought of the call, saying: “I think we’ve been done by a poor decision from the referee. There was nothing in the game. First half we were quite good, had a real good chance early, Neill Byrne has got to score, he knows that, it’s a free header, away from home, you need to take those opportunities.

“Then the one big decision in the first half goes against us, Kasey Palmer dives in the box and the referee gives a penalty. There’s no point me sugarcoating it, that’s what happens and it’s really disappointing we’ve been undone on that, particularly coming away from home to a place like this which is tough. If anything it's probably a yellow card for Kasey Palmer for trying to con the referee but it didn't go our way.

"It changes everything, it absolutely changes everything, because it just gives us a different team talk at half time. They’re bouncing, there wasn’t a lot in it, Tommy (Simkin) had a couple of half saves, but the decision has really hurt us. From the minute that it happened, and the moment we came out second half, you come here, the fans are behind them and credit to them, Luton, they were good second half, they were really good, but I think you need strong officiating in moments like that and it wasn’t the case,

“We're just not getting the rub of the green. I don't want to be standing here, give him the violin, get it out, but it’s true. I hold my hands up, they were good second half, they were better than us for a large spell bit we came strong in the end."

Luton boss Jack Wilshere thought differently to his opposite number about the incident, and was pleased that with Nahki Wells off the pitch due to injury, his summer signing from West Ham United was able to step up instead, as he stated: “From where I was, I saw his shirt being pulled, so it’s a penalty.

"Callum, in the first week when he came in, he ran about 50-yards in training and grabbed me, and said ‘gaffer, gaffer, I’m on penalties,’ and I was like, ‘yeah no problem, no problem.’ When you have someone like that who’s confident to take it, I had no doubt he was going to score.”

Meanwhile, Wilshere also had his own frustrations with the officials on the night, as the hosts saw what appeared a perfectly good goal chalked off before the half hour mark when Donley’s free kick deflected into the net, only for it to be disallowed for what could well have been some minor grappling between Mads Andersen and ex-Hatter Jack Senior.

That was only noticed when watching it back, and even then it still wasn’t clear, as asked if he knew why it was ruled out, a bemused Wilshere added: “No, no clue, I don’t know. I don’t want to talk too much about decisions and referees. I get it, it’s hard and all you want is consistency.

"I’ve felt like at times this season, I remember, was it Barnsley that Mads had his shirt taken off him and nothing happened, so you want consistency. Even on the throw-ins in the 50th minute, we’re getting counted after however long and they can take as long as they want, but no clue on the goal, it should count in my opinion.”