Firebrand Port Vale boss Micky Adams hit out at referee Richard Clark for the part the official played in Saturday’s surprise 2-0 defeat at Sixfields.
Clark angered Adams with his decision to send off skipper John McCombe for the late lunge which left Northampton Town striker Alex Nicholls in hospital with a double compound fracture of his left leg.
He was also angry at the decision not to award his side a penalty at the end of the first half when Joe Widdowson tangled with Ashley Vincent in the box.
Cobblers fans behind the goal were insistent there was no contact but the Valiants were left fuming at the decision, sparking a 20-man melee as the whistle blew for the interval.
Adams said: “The red card incident completely changed the game. We were always chasing the game after that incident.
“I thought we should have had a penalty at the end of the first half, it was a blatant penalty. I really don’t want to have a go at referees, but I don’t think he will look back at this game with any great pleasure.”
Clark also angered the home fans when he inexplicably ruled out Anthony Charles’ header, from a long Ben Tozer throw-in.
With Cobblers 2-0 up at half time against 10 men, hopes were high for a goal glut in the second period, but it never materialised as a resilient Vale dug deep and frustrated the home side.
Adams said: “I was delighted with our second half performance. We had problems centre half wise and our backs were against the wall, but I was absolutely thrilled with the performance in the second half.
“To a man, we asked them to stand up and be counted, particularly in the second half. We stuck to it and we caused them a few problems.”
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