Southend boss Kevin Maher frustrated at being denied “blatant” penalty in draw at Oldham

Southend United boss Kevin Maher has been left frustrated at his side being denied “blatant” penalty in the 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic.

There were calls for a spot-kick in the second half with Jack Bridge getting his shirt tugged in the box by Nathan Sheron, only for the referee Andrew Humphries to wave play on.

This came much to the surprise of Maher, and he made his feelings clear at that decision in his post match interview… what do you think?

Don’t think it’s a pen really pic.twitter.com/sTrAVeKxmy

— Danny Axcell (@DannyAxcell) March 3, 2024

Interviewer: “There was a really big shout in that second period for a penalty kick when Jack Bridge went down you’ve just seen what happened what was your thoughts there?”

KM: “Yeah listen it’s as blatant as you’re going to get um cross is coming in and the defender’s not even looking at the ball and Jack’s got the wrong side of him and he just tugged him and this as blatant as you’re going to get um the ref looking at but then he’s looking at to the linesman who’s 50 yards away from him on so at the left back position looks like he’s looking to him for advice and which is crackers you know what I mean um but we couldn’t seem to get a decision second half or just like nothing was going our way and it was frustrating to say the least.”

He was asked about the character of the players as we managed to come from behind for a third game running. “We’ve done that quite a lot recently, and that’s credit to the players that they didn’t stop going to try and win the game.”

On Collin Andeng Ndi’s the save of the season, Maher said: “It was a brilliant save because it looked like it was going to be in the net. Their ‘keeper’s produced one out of the top drawer as well from Gussy.”

On Husin’s equaliser just 10 minutes from time, Maher added: “The build-up of pressure was coming. Noor was brave enough to take one on and it’s a hell of a finish.”

Oldham: Hudson, Hogan, Hobson, Kitching, Raglan, Sheron, McGahey, Green (Conlon 38′), Hammond (Gardner 89′), Fondop-Talum (Norwood 58′), Garner

Subs: Norman, Gardner, Dallas, Norwood, Conlon

Southend: Andeng-Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph, Husin, Demetriou, Crowther, Bridge, Miley, Fonguck, Cardwell (Dackers 70′), Waldron (Sandat 89′)

Subs: Wood, Dackers, Sandat, Morton, Coker

Referee: Andrew Humphries
Assistants: Alan Hull and Samuel Clayton
Fourth Official: Melissa Burgin

Scorers:
Oldham Athletic: Sheron 61’
Southend United: Husin 80’

Yellow Cards:
Oldham Athletic: Hobson 54’
Southend United: Cardwell 62′

Attendance: 6,309 (436 away fans)

The result means that Southend sit 12 in the National League with 45 points after 35 games (-10 deducted), 12 points fro the playoff places but have games in hand, while Oldham are 6th with 57 points from 36 games played.

This is how fans reacted with Southend boss Kevin Maher frustrated at being denied a “blatant” penalty in the draw at Oldham…

@shrimperjon: Looked a foul

@danstobart_: the ref wasn’t even looking …

@Prestonoldham51: There’d be 5 pens a game if you are giving those. Never a pen. Bridge chucked himself to the floor with minimal contact.

@SZKev: Bridge continuously goes down too easily from what I’ve seen the past few games.

@TJM1904: They go down far too easily now. If he stayed in his feet that’s his, or the Oldham player would have actually brought him down.

@ScottWallace_: I always try and look at these with the shoe on the other foot and I’d be raging if we give a pen away for that 😂😂😂

@jimmy_g87: He’s felt a touch and gone looking for it. Definitely not a penalty.

@glentiesbhoy: I think he’s misjudged the flight of the ball and decided to try for a pen. That said I’ve always said it’s either a Pen or a yellow card in these situations.

@rayleighmartin: The Oldham player clearly has his left arm out and grabbing Bridge, whilst I’d be a little disappointed if given against us, it’s probably just a pen, seen them given for that before.

@MattyMarr17: My only question is why else would he go down as he has the chance to try and redirect it towards goal or at least pickup the ball as it goes behind and get it back into the box

@Simontimofish: Deffo a penalty you can clearly see Bridge being pulled down

@beardysocialist: the contact doesn’t make him go down like that, therefore no foul

@FFinest6: He pulls the shirt it’s a tough one

@JamManUK2000: Nah he went down far to easy

@petrillog89: Absolutely no chance

@callum_southend: clearly pulled him back. definite penalty imo

@johnsweeney641: It’s a foul anywhere else on the pitch

@loud_MM91: Never seen it, launched himself on the floor the second he felt a brush of contact

@caunce_owen: Don’t tell Kevin maher he was that close in the 4th official face he could’ve kissed him

@Darren05047818: Just bridge throwing himself to the floor, again!

@thelocalreferee: Not enough contact to be a penalty. Bridge not in control of the ball and was never getting to it. Plus he threw himself to the ground. The contact didn’t match the reaction. If that had been given against us the same people would be screwing