‘Judged It Right’ – Lincoln City Head Coach On Early QPR Incident

Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen believes the referee was right to show Conor McGrandles a yellow card just 20 seconds into the defeat at Queens Park Rangers.

McGrandles was making his return to the starting lineup following injury, but his comeback got off to a controversial start when he launched into a ‘robust’ challenge on Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara. The tackle left the Scottish midfielder on the ground and resulted in an immediate booking for McGrandles, who was then forced to negotiate virtually the entire game under the threat of a second yellow card. The caution also means he will serve a suspension after the international break.

Asked whether the incident might have resulted in a different decision had VAR been in operation, Chris felt the referee had made the correct call.

“No, I think the referee probably judged it about right,” he told press after the game.

“I don’t think their player needed the physio to come on or anything. That doesn’t always mean that the tackle deserves only a yellow.

“They shook hands and got on with it.”

However, Chris admitted the greater frustration was the effect the early booking had on McGrandles’ ability to influence proceedings.

“It was disappointing for us because Conor’s a really important player in terms of his tenacity and the way that he affects the way that you can tackle and go into a game.

“So that was the disappointing bit, but Conor’s a superstar. It was nice to have him back and I thought he had a good game, especially with the difficult circumstance of being on a yellow so early.”

With balance, the incident could well have led to a red card, and I have seen them given with little complaint in the past. Late, studs up, jumping in: it has the right ingredients, the only variant being the minute it occurred. Playing Devil’s Advocate, that shouldn’t matter, and if the boot were on the other foot, I’d be arguing a red.

McGrandles completed the match despite the early caution, having returned to the starting XI after missing the recent fixtures against Birmingham City and Watford. His suspension will now leave the Imps without the midfielder for their first game after the international break, although Chris was clearly pleased with his contribution during the 2-1 defeat at Loftus Road.