Scott Lindsey fumes about officiating during Crawley’s draw against Swindon

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey criticised “the worst decision I’ve seen in football” after a stirring 2-2 draw with Swindon left them a point above the relegation zone.

After the Red Devils had gone ahead through Klaidi Lolos early in the second half, Swindon hit back with a penalty from Aaron Drinan and Billy Bodin’s stoppage-time strike.

However, Kellan Gordon had the final say in the eighth minute of added time by rifling home as Swindon dropped to fifth, two points off the automatic spots.

Lindsey was furious with the standard of officiating, particularly in the second half.

He said of the penalty decision when Scott Malone was adjudged to have fouled Filozofe Mabete, he said: “It was the worst decision I’ve seen in football.

“I’m so angry at what I’ve just seen. We deserved so much more and I’m fuming with it.

“I’m struggling to focus on the football – the game needs to change drastically because it’s not right.”

Lindsey was also upset that Jonny Russell was later denied a penalty when challenged by Will Wright, and added: “We should have had it.

“Against a team fighting for the automatic promotion spots, we worked so hard. It was a great game, but it was ruined. Let the game be played properly.”

Swindon manager Ian Holloway was scathing about his team’s first-half display after only one win in their last five games.

He said: “How we came off level at half-time, I don’t know. In the first half, I didn’t recognise us.

“We made the changes after half-time, throwing on as many forwards as I’ve got, and we started to play.

“We got the lead but couldn’t hold it, and we have to look back and blame the first 45 minutes.”

Holloway is demanding an improvement going into the last 10 games.

He added: “Everything is vital now in our position.

“I believe we should have won, but had we won would we have deserved it?

“We’ve taken four points from this lot, now we need to take three points at home to MK Dons.

“It’s all there for us, but we need to be better than that.

“We’ve had the best training all season, but then we get out on the pitch and can’t pass to each other.”