Jones vows to fight to finish

MIKE Jones was left feeling he was on the wrong end of two decisions from officials as Athletic claimed a point at Coventry.

The ever-consistent midfield man (27) was able to re-watch the apparent foul on Connor Brown by Frank Nouble in the build-up to the Sly Blues’ equaliser on a laptop straight after the game had ended.

In addition to that injustice, Jones felt he could have been awarded a penalty only two minutes earlier as he cut into the area on the break as Athletic led 1-0.

Instead he was shown a yellow card for diving by referee Andy Madley. Jones is reluctant to criticise, though: “I thought the defender dangled his leg, but maybe I just lost my balance,” he said.

“I didn’t mean to go down and I felt there was contact, but never mind — I am not one to moan about decisions.”

The added-time equaliser from Reda Johnson means Athletic are four, rather than seven, points clear of Coventry and in 14th place in Sky Bet League One. It was the 14th goal the team has let slip within the final 10 minutes of matches this season.

The slips have cost Athletic six points which added to the current tally would place the club one point clear of Rochdale in seventh place.

As it is, a top-10 finish remains an achievable goal. For Jones, there is plenty still riding on the game on Saturday against a Chesterfield side who can cement their place in the end-of-season play-offs.

“It was obviously very disappointing to concede so late (at Coventry), especially when we had hung on for so long,” he added.

“We looked back at the footage and it is definitely a foul. So it is a big decision that the referee has got wrong. It is another two points gone. A draw means at least they haven’t managed to get any closer to us, but it would have been nice to get the win.”