Forres Mechanics boss slams red card decision as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘incompetent’

Forres Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald slammed the decision to send-off striker Kyle MacLeod in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Rothes as “disgraceful” and “incompetent”.

MacDonald was left furious after MacLeod - who was making his debut in Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Rothes - was shown two yellows in quick succession in the first half.

Forres were trailing 1-0 at the time after Greg Morrison’s opener, and went onto lose 3-0, with goalkeeper Corey Patterson also given his marching orders for a handball 30 yards from goal with the scoreline at 2-0 in the second period.

Defender Ryan McRitchie ended the match in the Forres goal, putting in a heroic showing and conceding just one more goal in the 85th minute.

MacDonald was left questioning referee David Alexander’s abilities post-match.

He said: “The first red card is an appalling decision. It’s the sort of decision where you have to question if the referee is at this level.

“It’s an every day challenge on the football field. It’s like he’s picking on Kyle. It’s a disgraceful decision, simple as that.

“As I told the referee, we have to take responsibility for our first half performance ourselves. I don’t think we were good enough and I wasn’t happy with the way we were playing.

“We found ourselves 1-0 down, which is really disappointing, but we were still well in the game, and I think the decision then changes the game entirely.

“I take the blame for the first half but, equally, the referee has got to take the blame for that decision. It’s incompetent. It’s a dreadful decision and these have a big impact on games.

“The referee said that he read the rulebook and if you are leading with arms it’s going to be a yellow card. The rulebook might say that, but that’s not football.

“Anyone that has played football knows that Kyle is just jumping there. It’s totally different from trying to do someone. He’s tried to be the main man and he is quite happy with himself. He thinks it’s okay but I certainly don’t.”

MacDonald admitted that the red card shown to goalkeeper Patterson was warranted.

He added: “Corey was left exposed and it was a red card. I have no problem with that.

“Ryan (McRitchie) did well in goal and we battled well to keep the score down.

“Our young goalkeeper is working away and Rob Donaldson (sub goalkeeper) has injured his shoulder. It did go through my head before the game ‘what if something happens?’

“Both teams were without a sub goalkeeper and it could have happened to Rothes, too, but the day we were having it happened to us.

“I asked who wanted to go in goals and Ryan stepped up and did really well. It’s something we need to look at as we have been caught out with it.”

The Can-Cans are back in action on Saturday when they visit Turriff United, who were beaten 5-0 on the season’s opening day by Brora Rangers.