Kieran McKenna bemoans ‘unacceptable’ decisions as Ipswich are pegged back again
The hosts suffer late pain just as they looked set to record their first win of the Premier League campaign.
Kieran McKenna branded referee Tim Robinson’s decisions “unacceptable” after Ipswich were denied a penalty and had Kalvin Phillips sent off in the 1-1 draw against Leicester.
The Town boss accused Robinson of taking centre stage when, with Ipswich leading through a fine Leif Davis volley, the official turned down what looked a clear penalty when Conor Chaplin was barged over by Abdul Fatawu.
Moments later Robinson showed Phillips a second yellow card for a challenge on Ricardo Pereira.
It proved costly for Ipswich in stoppage time when Sam Morsy attempted to run the ball into the Ipswich half, only to be robbed by Boubakary Soumare.
Soumare played in fellow substitute Jordan Ayew, who played a one-two with Jamie Vardy before slipping the ball under goalkeeper Arijanet Muric to snatch a point.
“I think it was the defining moment in the match, it’s clear we were the better team when it was 11 v 11, and we should go 2-0 up,” said McKenna.
“I think it’s a clear penalty and should have been given straight away. He steams into (Chaplin’s) stomach. I don’t think it’s a debatable one.
“And to compound that with a bouncing ball, and both players have the right to go for the challenge, and Kalvin’s tried to pull out…
“In the context of the game to compound it by giving a second yellow is unacceptable, in my opinion, for the referee to put himself into the centre of the match like that.”
Ayew’s equaliser means Ipswich’s search for a first Premier League win of the season goes on.
“It’s 10 games we haven’t won, but 10 games and five from which we got a result, and probably eight that we competed in,” added McKenna.
Foxes boss Steve Cooper, watching from the press seats as served a one-match ban, claimed he did not see the penalty incident but did admit “a draw was a better result for us than for Ipswich.”
He added: “Performance-wise we dropped off a little bit in our intensity and into what Ipswich wanted.
“They’ve scored a goal of great quality; that can happen in this league. But we settled again, responded, forced a red card which I’m told could’ve come a bit earlier, but no problem.
“Then we had good chances in the latter stages. We needed to keep going, and Jordan and Vards combined and showed great composure and their experience and it was a good goal.
“A draw is what it is. We have to accept a point away from home. We’re disappointed not to win but we saw some good things.”
