Cambridge receive apology from the FA over controversial decision in defeat at Forest Green

Cambridge United receive an apology from the FA over what was a very controversial decision in their defeat at Forest Green Rovers.

Mark Bonner, the U’s head coach, has admitted that the Football Association had earlier this week apologised to them for a penalty they were given last weekend at The New Lawn.

Cambridge substitute Saikou Jananneh looked to have saved his side from a draw in Gloucestershire, completing a well-worked team move in the 89th minute and cancelled Josh March’s opening-half opener.

After a challenge by Paul Digby, Forest Green’s Myles Peart-Harris fell inside United’s penalty box. The spot was awarded by James Oldham much to their dismay.

Connor Wickham scored the spot kick to send the U’s home with no points, losing 2-1. The game’s governing body however has since acknowledged that the penalty shouldn’t have been given.

Cambridge currently sit 20th in the League One table, with 20 points from 20 games played while Forest Green are 21st, top spot of the relegation zone, with 17 points from 20 games. That decision clearly a big one.

“We don’t deserve to lose that game by any stretch of the imagination,” said Bonner, as reported by Cambridge Independent.

“We all knew at the time it wasn’t a penalty and it’s no help to us when we get the Email apologising from the FA and the referee saying that they made a mistake because it doesn’t do anything to help us in that moment.

“We get robbed of a point in the game which is frustrating but probably it sums up a little bit where we are – those things haven’t gone for us in certain situations.

“We just have to get on with it and move on and take the facts from the game that we started very well. If we score first in it we probably get ourselves more control but we concede a goal we’re frustrated with and the game drifted a little bit, which we’ve got to avoid that happening.

“But we finished the game strongly and I thought the goal was brilliantly worked and executed by the boys that came off the bench.

“It was probably the sort of goal that deserved something from it and at the late stage that it came we thought we secured ourselves a point which would have been good for us in the situation that we’re in.

“We just have to get on with it and move on to the next bit knowing that the games have been quite close and tight affairs. We know that’s the situation and we’ve got to make sure we try and make it the same this weekend (at home versus Plymouth Argyle) and give ourselves the chance of getting back in the points.”

“We’re in a really difficult moment”

Mark Bonner on Cambridge’s 2-1 defeat at Forest Green in League One

Full interview 🎧👇#CamUTD #BBCFootball

— BBC Cambs Sport (@BBCCambsSport) December 5, 2022

Manager Ian Burchnall admitted he was a relieved man after Forest Green moved off the foot of the table with a dramatic 2-1 home win over Cambridge.

He revealed he coulnd’t watch as substitute Connor Wickham scored from the spot in the third minute of stoppage time: “I looked away when the penalty was being taken but if you need anyone to take one under that pressure, it’s Connor.

“My heart rate’s high and will be for the rest of the evening!

“It would’ve been a travesty if we hadn’t won. We were more deserving of the victory.

“We’ve talked about resilience but it was admirable the way the players bounced back.

“It’s one game. We can’t get carried away and we have to replicate it. It’s a big month for us but a good start to it. We now have to follow it up next week.”

Rovers defender Corey O’Keeffe was handed a second yellow card as United protested the decision.

Burchnall added: “Their player was scuffing up the penalty spot and Corey shoved him away but he was already on one card so shouldn’t have got involved. He has to be smarter.”

Cambridge manager Mark Bonner said: “That’s a tough one to take.

“The equaliser at the death was a brilliant goal but the pen so soon after – well there wasn’t much in it. The lads were adamant it wasn’t one.

“If we’d have taken a point we’d have been delighted, unfortunately it’s another defeat for us.

“We’re in a difficult moment but we’ve got to be up for the fight. The lads have got to stick with it. There are a group of players in there that are hurting at the moment.

“We were a bit too slow in our build up in the second half and we’ve been too slow and pensive in our attacking play at times but we’ve got the basis of a good side. We’ve got to turn it into results.”