Jacket gets the treatment

THE TWO managers could not have held more differing views on the controversial Ryan Lowe penalty which nicked three points for Tranmere Rovers.

“It was a nailed-on penalty at the end,” said Rovers boss Ronnie Moore, who blew kisses in response to jeers from the Main Stand at full-time.

“Ryan Lowe was on the front foot to get in front of their ’keeper. Though the referee was brave to give it, he didn’t have much option.

“It is pleasing to come here and win, because they (Athletic fans) love to hate me and I don’t know why.

“I hope they keep doing it, because it is two or three seasons now that I’ve come here and done that.”

Athletic manager Lee Johnson saw the incident very differently and was directed to the stand by referee Eddie Ilderton for taking his protestations too far in the view of the official.

“You could tell what I thought (of the decision) by the way I half-volleyed my jacket about four rows back into the stand,” said a furious Johnson. “I have seen it on the video and my reaction was justified.”

Athletic’s boss felt that his side, though dominant in the first half, didn’t do enough in the opposing penalty area.

“We were very good in the first half without having that killer instinct,” he added. “We put in some good balls but didn’t really connect properly on anything.

“In the second half we were flat and shouldn’t have been. I am disappointed with that.

“We tried to mix it up by putting a new dynamic on and it worked to a point, but we flashed balls into the box with nobody really looking like getting on the end of them.

“We were never in danger at any point in the game and were cruising really.

“We should have upped it five-per-cent and could have got two or three.

“We didn’t, and you can always then be on the end of some mismanagement (from the referee).

“Just as everyone was getting off their seats, the final ball or the final contact wasn’t quite there.

“We are getting there. We are a better side than them and they nicked a win they should never have got.”

Johnson also said that James Tarkowski was adamant he should have had a spot-kick of his own in the first half when he was dragged to the floor by Tranmere veteran Ian Goodison.

“He (Tarkowski) felt he had his eyes on the ball and that their lad was climbing all over him,” he said.

Without Jose Baxter, sold to Sheffield United last week for an undisclosed fee, Athletic again fielded Jonson Clarke-Harris up front with Adam Rooney.

But as Athletic hit a third blank of the season at home, Johnson felt that the teenager had an off-day.

“Jonno has to get fitter, He is a big powerful boy and I takes a lot out of him.

“It frustrates me as he is such a talent when he is on fire,” he added.

“Here, it just didn’t happen for him.”