Dean Smith slams referee gaffes

Walsall were today counting the cost of a string of refereeing gaffes – with manager Dean Smith left baffled over official David Foster's calls.

Referee Foster made a trio of wrong decisions as Bournemouth's 1-0 win on Saturday ended the Saddlers' four game unbeaten run.

Foster failed to award a second-half penalty when Jason Price was felled by Shaun Cooper and missed a foul on Andy Butler in the build-up to Michael Symes' winner.

The official also awarded the corner which led to the strike - which the Saddlers claimed should have been a goal kick.

And Smith was puzzled why his men, who slipped back to second bottom in League One, were on the wrong end of the three key decisions.

He said: "We still haven't had a penalty this season and only the referees can answer why. It's funny, they blow for things people don't see but when people go down and there are major decisions to be made they don't seem to be getting called at the moment.

"People who were watching may have seen something different but for me the key decisions didn't go our way. That happens, you take it on the chin and move on.

"It happens anywhere, whether you're at the bottom or the top. Sometimes you get decisions and sometimes they go against you and you have to get on with it."

Captain Butler also questioned Foster's decision making and reason for turning down Price's penalty appeal.

He said: "I spoke to Pricey and the referee said he didn't give it because of his reaction, which is strange. He said Pricey got up too quickly, I don't know – I can't get in to that."

Defeat left the Saddlers five points from safety but Smith insisted they are still in the fight – ahead of tomorrow's showdown with third bottom Dagenham.

He said: "I looked at the league and 10 points covers the whole of the bottom of the table. We've thrown ourselves back in to the battle and the fight to stay up over the last few weeks and it was disappointing not to get a result.

"They are second in the league but you could see from their celebrations at the end it was a hard earned win from them.

"They will feel a little fortunate to have walked away with three points."