United boss sees red over flurry of yellow cards

GLENN Ferguson was disappointed not only with the performance of his Ballymena United players but that of referee Mark Courtney in Saturday’s 2-0 Danske Bank Premiership home defeat by Glenavon.
Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson was unhappy with refereeing decisions in Saturday's defeat by Glenavon. Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson was unhappy with refereeing decisions in Saturday's defeat by Glenavon. Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson was unhappy with refereeing decisions in Saturday's defeat by Glenavon. Picture: Press Eye.

The Dungannon official booked five United players, prompting Ferguson to make changes to his gameplan.

“Mark Courtney has more experience than what he showed today.

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“I had to make three changes simply because people were on yellow cards and they were very close to being sent off. I don’t want to take risks at this stage of the season with players carrying over suspensions into next season.

“He was conned – there were players on their team diving about and yelping – it’s frustrating at this level.

“I told my players that if any of them ever go down that route they won’t be here.

“It’s a man’s game – I want them to take a knock, get up and get on with it but if any of them start doing that, it’s embarrassing and it shouldn’t be in the game.

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“For Glenavon’s first goal, from the goalkeeper’s clearance, Gary Liggett thought he had got it but Mark Haughey redirected it straight through the middle. It was a good finish but that one disappointed me.

“The second one was a bad pass inside and when you have players at the top end of the pitch like Glenavon have, you get punished.

“It wasn’t a nothing game, we wanted to win but I was more frustrated at the way things went on in the match,” added Ferguson.