Last updated at 11:46, Thursday, 08 November 2012

Preston manager Graham Westley claims Carlisle’s two-month old accusations that they practice “gamesmanship” cost them vital decisions in their latest game against the Blues.

Referee Richard Clark gives Preston’s Paul Huntington a yellow card

The North End boss launched into a bizarre tirade against the officials in United’s 1-1 draw at Deepdale on Tuesday. Westley alleged that referees have been “briefed” on his team’s reputation and also claimed Preston were not getting decisions because they are “a big club”.

The Lilywhites boss was aggrieved that a fourth-minute corner by Scott Laird, which appeared to cross the line, was not given, though Carlisle keeper Adam Collin has since claimed he was fouled as the cross came in. Westley also complained about a host of ref Richard Clark’s other decisions, including the yellow card to defender Paul Huntington for his clash with Joe Garner, which sees the Carlisle-born North End man suspended.

The Preston boss believes the issues may go back to Greg Abbott’s “gamesmanship” claims which he levelled after September’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.

“I am frustrated, I know referees get briefed and I don’t know what these briefings are about but I understand from the past this subject of gamesmanship when we went up to Carlisle and all that nonsense,” Westley said. “I am sick to death with decisions not going our way, when we even score a goal we don’t get it given and we need to closely look into it.

“Another thing I am going to look at very closely is in added time, after we scored our goal I saw the referee put his whistle to his mouth and Carlisle countered and the whistle came away from his mouth.

“It does always seems to be us and we need to start thinking seriously about what is going on.”

Westley accused Carlisle of time-wasting tactics and added: “Why is Paul Huntington on a yellow card tonight? What has he done, he gets fouled, he gets a yellow card and he is now banned on Saturday. I look at the decisions through a game and I ask myself what is going on. Maybe it is because we are a big club and people think they should come and make their mark.”

First published at 11:31, Thursday, 08 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk