Sign up to our Grimsby Town newsletter for daily updates and breaking news on the Mariners Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Forest Green Rovers boss Mark Cooper was not impressed with the performance of the referee as his side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Grimsby Town this afternoon.

Mitch Rose’s goal proved to be enough for the hosts to claim the victory as he followed up on Sam Jones’ missed penalty in the first half.

Referee Carl Boyeson pointed to the spot after Diallang Jaiyesimi went down under the challenge of Jack Fitzwater, who was shown a second yellow after picking up a booking just minutes before for time-wasting.

And Cooper certainly didn't hold back in his assessment of the Hull official's performance at Blundell Park.

“We got a man booked for time-wasting after 27 minutes, and if that was a penalty, there’ll be ten penalties in every game,” Cooper said.

“We’ve had a look at it - you wouldn’t even give a foul if it was anywhere else on the pitch.

“The ball’s six feet in the air and their man’s took a tumble. He was never getting the ball, but the referee’s decided he couldn’t wait to blow the whistle and give a penalty.

“Brad Collins saved it, and then their man runs straight through the D, which is not allowed, which enables him to get a run on everybody else to tap it in so it should be pulled back.

“I was promised by the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Board) that we would be getting an experienced, confident referee that would make no contentious issues. That’s not what we got.”