Dean Smith raps Walsall penalty calls

Walsall boss Dean Smith today rapped officials Simon Hooper and Jake Hillier after two controversial penalty calls cost the Saddlers at Colchester.

The manager questioned the experience of rookie assistant referee Hillier – in his first Football League season – after Andy Butler conceded a penalty and was sent off in Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Essex.

Replays showed the captain's initial contact with Michail Antonio, for Anthony Wordsworth's match-winning spot-kick, was outside the box and Smith insisted referee Hooper also got it wrong.

The Saddlers boss said: "I saw the match-changing decision, the foul was made outside the box and the lad falls inside.

"Maybe that's what you get when you have a 23-year-old linesman, maybe it's a bit of inexperience from him.

"The foul was outside the box, I've seen it with my video analyst so maybe they can take it, have a look and get a little experience from it.

"The hard thing for us is, if you don't appeal, Andy Butler is banned for the next game.

"I've had to take off Jamie Paterson, a 19-year-old kid who had started the game really well. It's bad luck on him."

Hooper also turned down the Saddlers' second-half penalty shout, after Magnus Okuonghae handled in the box.

Smith added: "The fourth official told me they thought it was a red arm but their player admitted it and said it was accidental."