Jon Macken blasts Andy Butler red

Walsall striker Jon Macken today insisted referees must carry the can for their decisions after captain Andy Butler's controversial red card.

The frustrated forward believes officials must be made accountable following official Paul Tierney's shock dismissal of the Saddlers skipper - which the club are appealing.

Butler was sent off as he challenged Nathan Luscombe – who was also sent off for the same tackle in the 1-1 draw at Hartlepool.

And Macken, who scored the Saddlers' first penalty since September 2009, insisted the official shocked both teams.

He said: "It's frustrating because there are new rules coming in which say you can't crowd the referee, you can't do this and you can't do that, but sometimes they try to hide away from their performances.

"I'm not saying they're horrendous decisions but they need to be looked at. He can see it himself, he's got a fourth official, two linesmen and it's never a red card.

"He made his decision straight away, everyone was baffled by it. To be perfectly honest, he didn't really know whose free kick it was, he gave it to them, then us and then he said 'drop ball'.

"It kind of says to you he didn't really know what was going on. It's a good point for us at the end of the day and you don't want to blame the linesman, referee or anyone else.

"It's happened and we'll get on with it."

Elsewhere today, Walsall have been drawn against Shrewsbury in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

They host the League Two Shrews – along with former Saddlers ace Matt Richards – on August 30.

The Saddlers will also play Tividale in the Birmingham Senior Cup on October 18.