Scunthorpe United striker Paddy Madden was unhappy with referee Andy Haines after the 2-1 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat against Notts County on Tuesday night.
Madden criticised Haines’ performance after both he and Andrew Boyce had goals disallowed late on.
“We dominated the game but it’s ended in defeat so it’s disappointing,” said Madden. “However, I don’t think the referee and the linesman helped us tonight, I thought they had a shocking performance.”
The 26-year-old got on the score-sheet in the first-half and thought he had doubled his tally when nodding in a cross from Gary McSheffrey, only to see Duncan Street, the linesman, flag for offside.
Meanwhile, Boyce’s effort was disallowed for an adjudged foul on Magpies’ goalkeeper Fabian Spiess.
Madden, although quick to condemn the performance of the officials, insisted it was important “not to make excuses” as his side crashed out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in the first round.