Burnden Aces

Post-Match: Parkinson on Bolton's Defeat at Sheff Utd

• February 25, 2017 | By Chris Mann
• Short URL: http://b-ac.es/78bb9

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• League One, Phil Parkinson, Sheffield United
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• See Also

• Sheffield United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

Phil Parkinson believes Bolton were on the wrong end of two vital refereeing decisions, but admits his players didn't perform as they lost 2-0 at Sheffield United.

Goals in each half from Billy Sharp gave the Blades a routine victory at Bramall Lane, moving them seven points clear at the top of the League One table - 10 above Wanderers, who dropped to 4th as a result of their latest struggle on the road.

Speaking after the game, Parkinson was adamant the penalty awarded to United for their second goal should never have been given, as well as claiming John Fleck should have been dismissed for a first-half challenge which later forced Tom Thorpe off through injury.

"First-half, I thought we were in the game and a mistake gave them the first goal," Parkinson told BBC Radio Manchester.

"The second goal is a definite dive. How Mike Dean hasn't seen that - I've just seen it back and it's a clear dive.

"At 2-0 down and a lot of key players out, it was always going to be tough.

"When Fleck has poleaxed Tom Thorpe in the middle of the pitch - if that's not a sending off then I don't know what is. I've just seen it back and he's practically knocked Tom out. He's in a bad way.

"Two big incidents went against us but, equally, in the second-half, we didn't show enough quality.

"Bramall Lane is a difficult place to come but you need your strongest team out there and we were depleted.

"We go again on Tuesday with some key players back in the team and we'll look forward to that."

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