Sport

Bury manager Flitcroft calls for refereeing system changes after Oxford loss

David Flitcroft has called for a review of the refereeing system after his Bury side slumped to their first defeat in eight games against Oxford United.

Callum O’Dowda’s goal five minutes from time was enough to end the Shakers’ four-match winning run and they also lost Adam El-Abd to two bookable offences.

Flitcroft spoke of a sense of ‘injustice’ with the performance of the officials after the match and insisted improvements need to be made. 

“With the money in football, how can’t we have a discussion with the referee after the game to see if we can make it better?” he said.

“This is the only way we’re going to improve as a group, it takes away the emotion. 

“I speak to the referee 30 minutes after a game now and it’s probably a pointless exercise because it never goes anywhere.

“We have got to concentrate on really lifting this group who have been different class in the last three months.”

The defeat means Bury now sit nine points behind League Two leaders Burton Albion with 11 games of the campaign left to play.

Flitcroft’s side remain in the play-off places and will be hoping they can maintain their push for promotion during the business end of the season.

Midfielder Tom Soares, who has recently signed a new two-year contract, believes it is a positive that the club have their destiny in their own hands.

“We just have to concentrate on ourselves; it doesn’t matter about other results we just need to keep winning games,” he said.

“We go out to win every game and that is what we need to do, it’s important if we’re going to get promoted and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“It’s a great club and a fantastic place to be with the new training ground now – we’re going places and it’s an ambitious club.”

Main image courtesy of Bury Football Club via YouTube, with thanks.

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