The O’s conceded late on to draw with Dons but weren’t happy with decisions made by man in the middle
Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon was left frustrated with the performance of referee Darren Handley following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon.
The man in the middle handed out six yellow cards at Brisbane Road and sent off John Marquis in the 58th minute for two bookable offences.
It would prove crucial for the O’s with the red card coming just after forward Ollie Palmer had been substituted.
Orient were left without a physical presence up top and it allowed the Dons to hit back and level in the 80th minute through Adebayo Akinfenwa.
That was how it would finish on Saturday and the officials were booed off as they left the pitch at full time.
Hendon said: “There were lots of bookings in that game, which weren’t bookings if you ask me.
“We played a match on Tuesday night and Andy Woolmer was the referee at Plymouth Argyle and tackles went in during that clash.
“It was a proper League Two match of football and tackles were allowed, but the referee on Saturday has decided from the off that there wasn’t going to be any. He made the game what it was.”
Orient faced an uphill battle when Marquis received a send yellow for fouling former Millwall team mate Paul Robinson in the centre of the pitch.
Although it wasn’t the cleverest tackle to make on a caution, it was only the third foul the 23-year-old had made all game.
He was booked in the 14th minute for the first he made and it was near the Wimbledon corner flag, not exactly in a threatening position.
“I am sure lady luck will even itself out over the season and I am sure some decisions we got on Saturday they will maybe balance themselves out over the year and bring us a bit more luck,” admitted Hendon.
“In the Plymouth match tackles were flying in and it was a proper game of football. The lads want to play like that so why take the passion out of it.”
Hendon and his Orient players got together after the full time whistle on the pitch at Brisbane Road to reflect on their point.
It means they are three matches unbeaten and although they dropped out of the play-off positions on Saturday, given the circumstances it was a decent result.
Wimbledon have held the likes of Wycombe Wanderers, Portsmouth. Northampton Town and Mansfield Town already this season and beaten the likes of Accrington Stanley on the road.
Therefore considering the O’s had to play over half an hour with 10 men, a point shouldn’t be sniffed at too much against a strong looking Dons team.
“I told the players after the game they have had a good week, we should have got more on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t to be,” added Hendon.
“Everything is up against us at the minute with the sending off on Saturday. That is football, it does happen, but as I have said credit to the players for hanging in.”
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