Cheltenham Town: Yates blasts skipper for red card
MARK Yates blasted his captain Alan Bennett for seeing red in the final seconds of Cheltenham Town's 2-2 home draw with Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
Defender Bennett was dismissed for shoving Jamie McGuire in the aftermath of Fleetwood's 92nd minute equaliser at the Abbey Business Stadium as they stopped Cheltenham climbing into the automatic promotion places.
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RED MIST: Robins skipper Alan Bennett on the long trudge back to the dressing rooms after his red card
Boss Yates was livid and said he could not excuse Bennett's behaviour, despite provocation from McGuire, who goaded Cheltenham defenders.
"He (Bennett) was sent off for pushing their lad in the chest, but he fell for the oldest trick in the book," Yates said.
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"Their lad (McGuire) is a good player and he was excellent all game, but it was totally unacceptable and unprofessional from Alan Bennett.
"I don't usually criticise my players, but I am fuming at that more than the late goal we conceded.
"I will be missing my captain for the next three games now and I wanted to rest people and we have some knocks, but Benno wouldn't have been one of them.
"I saw him raise his hands and he's pushed him in the chest.
"He said to me that the lad was in his face when their lad scored – so what?
"I am extremely angry because it was a lack of professionalism from a very professional person."
Yates described a challenge by Fleetwood substitute Jon Parkin on Jermaine McGlashan before the late drama as a 'disgrace' and felt it should have resulted in a red card for the front man.
He was disappointed with some of the other decisions made by referee Carl Berry, not least a foul given against Jeff Goulding which eventually led to the concession of Junior Brown's late leveller.
But Yates said there were plenty of positives to come from Cheltenham's performance, as they fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 before their last-gasp setback.
"In the second half once we changed it around, we looked a lot better and a real threat," he said.
"I was delighted for Jeff to score and we should have gone on to win the game.
"We haven't quite hung on for three points, which we deserved, but we extended our unbeaten run to five and we are going to be up there this season."
Cheltenham play Oxford United at home in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tomorrow night. Bennett will miss that tie as well as the forthcoming League Two trips to AFC Wimbledon and Bradford City.
Yates is expected to tie up a loan deal for a midfielder today.
â Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker will be holding a live web chat today from noon. Log on to www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk to put your questions to him.
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