Darrell Clarke frustrated at decisions in Walsall draw
Darrell Clarke insists the decision not to award Walsall a second half penalty was the turning point as his side drew 1-1 away at Morecambe.
The Saddlers were winning 1-0 when substitute Cameron Norman was hacked down one yard inside the area.
Referee Graham Salisbury and his assistants instead gave a free-kick, before Morecambe equalised in the 80th minute.
The hosts were also denied a late penalty but Clarke believes his side would have won had the original decision been made correctly.
“It is (a clear penalty) but officials don’t mean to make mistakes,” Clarke said.
“We get frustrated with them. I want to win so much for my club, but they’re only human beings.
“They’re (Morecambe) screaming for a penalty late doors which might have been one but for me that was the game changer. If we get the penalty, tuck that in, it’s 2-0 and game over.
“That’s football, but the fact of the matter is the linesman has to help him out. He’s 12 yards away from the incident and he can clearly see it’s inside the box.
“He has to be able to see that and if we get that it’s 2-0 and game over. I don’t think they even get the one goal then.
“Ifs and buts isn’t it.”
The result means Walsall have taken two points from five games and surrendered leads in their last two fixtures.
“I’m disappointed it’s not the three points,” Clarke added.
“We’ve missed a couple of guilt-edged chances and we should have had a penalty.
“The effort is there, commitment, and we defended really well on a tough night with the conditions.
“It’s nearly a perfect away performance but ‘nearly’ has been a word we’ve used too much this season.
“It’s been a bit frustrating but we keep working away and trying to get as many points as we possibly can.
“We were 1-0 up against Oldham and we don’t see the game out for whatever reason. Whether that’s out ruthlessness in front of goal.
“The big fella (Elijah Adebayo) has had a great chance one-on-one, Wes (McDonald) has had a great chance.
“Norman gets us a good penalty that turns into a free-kick.
“The goal was a really quality goal from ourselves, some great passing and reaction from Josh Gordon to get the first.”
