Lincoln City head coach Tom Shaw believes a major refereeing error cost his side a deserved point in their 1-0 defeat at Watford.
The Imps were beaten at Vicarage Road by a deflected Stephy Mavididi strike less than a minute into the second half, but the goal was surrounded by controversy.
City were furious after Watford were awarded a throw-in that appeared to belong to Lincoln, with the hosts taking it quickly before the decision had been signalled. Mavididi’s subsequent effort deflected off Sonny Bradley and past George Wickens, leaving the Imps to suffer a second successive Championship defeat.
Ben House was booked for his furious arguments while Watford celebrated, but Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw could only watch on from the stands in agony.
Speaking after the game, Tom praised the effort of his players and the backing of the travelling supporters, but was adamant that the result had been determined by the officials.
“Yeah, we’re gutted,” he said.
“Gutted for the players and gutted for the fans. I thought the players’ effort and endeavour was incredible tonight. It’s a massive football club full of internationals. The lads have given it everything, the supporters have got right behind them, and the result has been defined by a big error by the referee.
“Of course, our quality can be better around the goal. We’ve got things that we can improve on and definitely talk about, but we deserved the point tonight, in our opinion. We’ve come to a big club, it’s a performance full of heart and effort and desire, and a really, really tough one to take because the result has been decided by a big mistake.”
Tom was then asked to clarify exactly what he felt the referee had got wrong, explaining that his frustration was not simply with the direction of the throw-in, but the fact Watford had been allowed to take it before the decision was made.
“That’s part of it. So it’s our throw-in, but people get that wrong, that’s fine. But the throw-in is taken before it’s been awarded either way.
“We can’t complain about our lads’ reaction or switching off or anything because nobody knows whose throw-in it is. The throw is then taken and then it’s given. So basically, just play on at that point.
“So it’s a disaster for us to lose a game on those grounds and a big mistake that cost us what would have been a massive point.”
The defeat leaves Lincoln 17th in the Championship table, with 15 points from their opening 14 matches. It is a disappointing outcome after a performance in which the Imps restricted Watford to relatively few clear opportunities but struggled to create chances themselves.
City now travel to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, looking to avoid a third successive defeat before the international break.
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