Plymouth boss says he is 'disappointed' in referee's role in Sunderland defeat

Sunderland came back to beat Plymouth 3-1 at the Stadium of Light, but The Pilgrims' boss thinks they got a helping hand from referee Anthony Backhouse.

Plymouth manager Ian Foster said he was ‘disappointed’ in the role the referee played in his side’s 3-1 defeat at Sunderland.

Plymouth were leading at half-time but were unable to control a vibrant Sunderland second-half performances.

However, for Foster, the key moment came when the scores were level and Argyle midfielder Adam Forshaw was off the pitch needing treatment for an injury.

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He was stood waiting to return to the action, but the referee wouldn’t allow it – until after Sunderland scored their second goal.

"My understanding is that a player has got to spend 30 seconds off the pitch, which he did, and they (the officials) won't allow him on,” Foster said.

"Now I got told then that the fourth official must get a wave - or a high five, I'm not sure what it is - but he must get a signal off the referee to allow him back on, which he does straight after they score, which is disappointing.

"In that moment it has become very costly for us. He has got injured, he has received treatment, I don't understand why it's a punishment.

"I thought it was quite a . . . I'm trying to choose my words carefully here . . . if I was the referee I would go home disappointed tonight. I thought it was a very one-sided decision making process from him."

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