David Artell was disappointed with key decisions going against us this afternoon but he refused to blame the officials for the 4-1 defeat at Burton Albion. Artell was understandably incensed that clear decisions were not given in our favour, resulting in two goals for the home side to go in at half-time 3-1 ahead and he was subsequently sent off at half-time and not allowed on the touchline.

The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “We had too many players not making good enough decisions on the ball and too many of them had poor games really. I also thought that we played well in patches when we passed the ball to each other but we didn’t do that often enough.

“Goals change games and we have helped them and the referee helped them and that’s it. We didn’t have enough to get back into the game and we lost our shape a bit in the last 20 minutes and they have chances again because of that.

“The decisions they got wrong were not difficult ones. They have performed a foul throw then they give a throw to them which should have been ours and for the third goal, it is an obvious foul on Callum (Ainley). It should have been a caution but we didn’t even get the free-kick and they have gone up the other end and scored a worldie. They are key moments and like I’ve said, goals change games.

“I said to the referee at half-time that I thought he was the worst one we had all season. I didn’t swear at him and 15 minutes later, they come in and tell me that I cannot go in the dugout for the second half. They said I questioned the integrity of the referee but I didn’t, I just gave my opinion. It is what it is.

“I am not blaming the referee for the result because Burton deserved to win the game but it didn’t half help them when it was an important stage of the game. Burton were in our faces and made it difficult. They put us under pressure, especially from their throws and I can't tell you how many times we told them not to concede them cheaply.

He added:  “Winning at Morecambe on Wednesday doesn’t make us a good team and nor does it make us a bad team losing here. Even when you take out the poor decisions that went against us, we need to be better.”