DES Buckingham believes Oxford United should have received at least two penalties in their dramatic 2-2 draw against Luton Town.
Referee James Bell waived off second-half challenges on Tyler Goodrham, Kyle Edwards, and Dane Scarlett, despite the U’s strong shouts for penalties on each occasion.
In the Goodrham incident, Bell appeared to be putting his whistle to his lips to award a penalty kick, but play continued, and Ruben Rodrigues headed wide from a Peter Kioso cross.
United head coach Buckingham said: “There were three calls for a penalty. The first one on Tyler I think is a pen.
“He doesn’t touch the ball the other player and I asked at the time, if it’s not a pen, then book the player for diving because it’s one or the other.
“Speaking to the officials afterwards, it sounds like the referee was about to give it and the linesman said no, so it’s the linesman that’s not given that one.
“I’ve just seen the one on Kyle at the end, where he creeps inside, and for me, that’s a nailed on one.
“We’re getting those at the moment. I’m told they’ll even themselves out, but I won’t let them detract from a wonderful performance from us.”
In addition to the calls for a second-half penalty, referee Bell had to make a decision when Hatters substitute Liam Walsh, who had only entered the game a few seconds before, lunged at Siriki Dembele.
With 13 minutes remaining in the game, Bell issued Walsh a straight red card, and the home team did little to protest.
Buckingham defended the challenge, citing the wet surface at Kenilworth Road, and said there was no malice in the tackle.
Buckingham said: “I’ve just seen Dembs’ leg. I didn’t see the contact at the time, but the way the player’s gone in, I was just looking at the state of Dembs’ leg. It’s not nice. It’s just a nasty gash, so he should be fine.
“The pitch and the conditions, I’m not saying it’s an excuse to chuck yourself in, but sometimes it carries through or you make decisions in these moments where you think you’re going to get the ball and it skips away.
“It affects sometimes your decision-making. I don’t think there was any real malice in there, it’s probably just a mistimed tackle. The good thing is Dembs is okay and we can get him ready for Saturday.”
