‘Unbelievable’ - Grant McCann’s shares scathing verdict on key decision during Doncaster Rovers’ loss to Stockport

Grant McCann has questioned the consistency of football’s fourth officials after claiming Doncaster Rovers were denied a clear red card decision in their 2-0 defeat against Stockport County.

The Rovers boss was left furious after an incident involving Bayley McCann and Mamadou Jobe during the first half, insisting the opposition defender should have been sent off for standing on the winger.

McCann was particularly frustrated that the fourth official, who was positioned close to the incident, did not intervene.

“Straight red card, how the fourth official doesn't say it, I'll never know,” he said.

“I've managed, well I've got myself booked because of it and because I could see it, the whole stadium, particularly with the fans behind me, could see it.

“When you're playing against one of the best teams in the division and certainly invested heavily in their squad, you need them decisions to go your way.”

McCann was keen to take his criticism of the incident away from the referee, who was making his first start in the English Football League.

He said: “I'm not putting any blame on the referee, I thought his performance was fine, it was his first start in the EFL, but he needs more from his fourth official who stood right beside him.

“When he said there's no contact, it's unbelievable.”

The Rovers manager felt the decision could have significantly altered the contest, with Jobe ironically proving to be the man that opened the scoring for the visitors early in the second half.

“That gives us a chance, it really does if they were down to 10 men there,” he added.

“It just so happens he scores the first goal. So it's really disappointing that we can't get that decision.”

McCann added: “The fourth officials are so inconsistent, some will want to get involved in the game, some will not want to take any part in the game,” he said.

“One game you've got a fourth official who wants to speak to you and give you the opinion of the referee because they're on speaker phones and others just want to dismiss you.I felt tonight he's just dismissed it.”

Stockport go top of the table after winning in comfortable fashion in DN4 while Rovers need an improved performance if they are to topple South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who did show signs of vulnerability in their defeat to Notts County.

McCann added:“That being said, we played against a really good team tonight and, taking the decision away, they deserved to beat us,” he said.

“They were better than us, they were more clinical than us.”