Swindon boss Ian Holloway fumes at referee and hits out at Fleetwood fans

Swindon boss Ian Holloway was left fuming at referee Richard Eley and his own treatment by Fleetwood fans after a 1-1 draw which sent his side top of League Two.

The Robins’ former Blackpool boss was booked on his return to the Fylde Coast following Ryan Graydon’s equaliser for the hosts in first-half stoppage time.

It cancelled out Ryan Tafazolli’s first goal for Swindon, with the draw still enough to see the visitors replace Walsall in top spot.

Holloway said: “The goal they scored was very good.

“But I am fuming with something that happened before. We should have had a free-kick because Ollie Palmer was unbelievably fouled.

“You get a free-kick at that time of the game then I am sorry, their goal doesn’t happen and we’ve won.

“For the decisions he (referee) was making before that, it was an obvious free-kick to us. But he didn’t give it and that’s what I find frustrating.

“The performance I am questioning isn’t that of my team. And that’s the safest way to put it.

“That said, I think a draw was a fair result on the balance of it all when we weren’t firing on all cylinders because of the injuries and suspensions we have got.

“I don’t know what got me booked. I pointed out Tafazolli got elbowed. Apparently, I shouldn’t talk to them.

“But I got hammered by people behind me. They are so rude. Do they think it was acceptable? I don’t think so.”

Swindon dominated the first half after Mark Helm had nearly put Fleetwood in front after two minutes.

But they could not add to Tafazolli’s header from Darren Oldaker’s cross and Graydon levelled with a fine header from 10 yards.

Fleetwood forced late pressure with a succession of corners and free-kicks, but neither side could find a winner.

“Swindon are the best team I have seen here this season,” Fleetwood manager Pete Wild said. “They caused us lots of problems and we didn’t get a glove on them at first.

“But I also felt we gave them a good going over and caused them lots of threats. We were dominant second half and thought we were maybe the team to nick it at the end.

“So it is highly frustrating their goal was offside. But I am pleased with a solid, dogged performance against one of the top sides in the league.”