Stevenage boss Dino Maamria labels Crewe’s David Artell ‘a disgrace’

Posted Sunday, December 30, 2018 by PA

Stevenage boss Dino Maamria accused Crewe’s bench of getting Alex Reid sent off as his side suffered a 1-0 defeat on the road.

Substitute Reid received a straight red card after catching Perry Ng with a high boot in the 79th minute.

The striker was eventually identified as the culprit by referee Anthony Backhouse, but Maamria accused David Artell and his assistant Kenny Lunt of pressurising the referee into making the decision.

Maamria said: “Alex got booted in the face with a high boot and has broken his nose and their number five (George Ray) gets a yellow card. But when Alex goes for a 50-50 ball he gets sent off – it was a yellow at the most.

“But I thought Dave Artell and his assistant were a disgrace in the way they behaved to get my player sent off. They were almost on the pitch jumping on the ref and I thought that was out of order. It was embarrassing really.”

Both sets of managers had harsh words for each other over Reid’s early shower and then refused to shake hands after the final whistle.

Afterwards Crewe boss Artell chose to focus on his side’s impressive performance which completed a holiday double after the Railwaymen beat league leaders Lincoln on Boxing Day.

Veteran striker Chris Porter was on the mark in both games and his 21st-minute penalty,after defender Ng was upended in the box by Scott Cuthbert, was the game’s decisive moment.

Porter had been recalled to the Crewe attack against Lincoln and he had the bit between his teeth again. His knock-back across goal from a James Jones could have seen Crewe double their lead before the break but both Jordan Bowery and Eddie Nolan failed to apply a finishing touch.

Ben Nugent went close to an equaliser against his former club when his thumping header crashed down off the crossbar soon after the hosts went ahead.

But Stevenage barely threatened after that and Maamria added: “I’m taking nothing away from Crewe’s players who deserved their win. They have got some good players and they should be higher in the league.

“We were disappointing in the first half and while we got forward with enthusiasm after the break it was not enough to get us as a goal.”

The success completed a double for Crewe over Maamria’s side.

Crewe boss Artell said: “Even on the first-half performance alone we deserved the three points. If it had been 4-0 at half-time they couldn’t have complained.

“We had chances that should have been converted and 1-0 is a bit nervy. To a man we had better players and it’s another three points at home, now we need to go away from Gresty Road and do the same.

“I can’t remember them opening us up and that was down to work rate but also their lack of quality if I am being honest.”