Pert: I Couldn't Believe It Tuesday, 18th Oct 2022 22:26 Blues assistant boss Martyn Pert said he couldn’t believe it when referee Thomas Parsons dismissed Kyle Edwards in the 17th minute with the Blues winger having been tripped by Cambridge defender Jubril Okedina rather than diving as the official believed. Town, who were ultimately beaten 1-0 by the U's but top the group, had started brightly and were well on top at that point but the early dismissal inevitably changed the game. Pert had no argument regarding Edwards’s first booking for catching Zeno Rossi with a high boot. "“The first one he’s knocked it over the boy’s head, a lovely bit of skill and he’s gone in there and it was a bit of a high foot, so I’d take a yellow card on that one,” Pert said. “And then the second one, nice overlap, Kane [Vincent-Young]’s there giving the ball, he’s got the one-v-one, he’s gone past him, I’ve seen it on the video, he’s clipped him. “I don’t know whether it was inside or outside the box, but he’s fouled him and he’s not dived. “And that destroyed the game really, destroyed the way the game was going for us at the time because we had complete domination of the game, and it was a good game particularly for the young lads because I felt we had control and they could have got a lot of good play from it. “But then they had to react and deal with what came after that, which was 10 men for 70 minutes, so it was good for them to deal with that scenario, which they probably weren’t planning when they were thinking about what they were doing in the game. “Positives really in that we’re through anyway, through as top of the group. Good minutes for the lads in terms of being down to 10 men.” Did the referee say anything about the decision? “I haven’t spoken to the referee about it, probably best not to really. I was peeved as well and I just couldn’t believe it, really. “It is what it is, I suppose, but I couldn’t believe it. He didn’t need to make the decision because no one else was [appealing], you can always go by players’ reactions and no one was going ‘He’s dived!’, no one was saying anything. “If he’d had just not given a foul but just let it go out of play, then that keeps the game going.” It was unfortunate for Edwards, who has put in some impressive displays in recent games, although one positive is that the suspension only covers Papa Johns Trophy games. “A really a big shame for him because he’s had spells in games now where he’s done really well when he’s come on and had an influence, against Cambridge in the home game in the league,” Pert added. “[It was about] getting a good amount minutes today and trying to get some more positive contributions going forward. A real shame for him, I think he’s really disappointed with it. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” Despite the 1-0 defeat, the Blues topped the group and have a home tie in the round of 32. “I think that’s really important,” the assistant boss continued. “We want to go as far as we can in the tournament but you want home games as well because then you don’t have to worry too much about the travel. “Good to top the group. I think the two performances at home helped us to finish top of the group.” Although Town started 18-year-olds Cameron Humphreys and Edwin Agbaje, and Tawanda Chirewa, 19, the team featured more senior players than had been anticipated. “We did play three teenagers and I always think it’s better for them to play when they have a chance, to play in a team,” he said. “That allows the game to be a proper game for them to come into and allows them to get a really good feel of proper professional level of football rather than putting all the young lads in all at the same time. “That doesn’t really feel like a proper game. It helps the young lads when they come in that they’re playing with Richard Keogh, who has played in the last 16 of the Euros, playing with Lee Evans, the football’s proper, so that’s good for those young players coming in.” Forward Chirewa, who was making his full debut with his only other appearance three years ago as a sub in the same competition, had made some good attacking contributions in the early stages prior to the red card. “I thought Tawanda had a good game,” Pert said. “What I was more pleased about was his contribution off the ball when we went down to 10 men, he was working hard. “We know he’s got quality, he can turn on it, he a lovely little moment before the sending off where he’s run with it and he’s put in a curling cross to the back post, a lovely bit of quality on the run, really good skill. “Then when we went down to 10 men, I thought he worked hard, thought he worked really hard tonight, pleased with him.” Defender Agbaje, a Republic of Ireland U18 international, impressed on his senior debut. “His first game for the club, first start for the club,” Pert reflected. “He’s been coming up for training on a regular basis. He’s been progressing and doing well, has done well for the U21s, so he’s got his chance tonight. I thought he did well in the game.” Recent signing Panutche Camara made his debut for the club as a half-time sub having had a frustrating month or so since joining from Plymouth. “Nice to get Pan some minutes on the pitch,” Pert added. “He’s coming back from an injury, surgery and he was injured with Plymouth before that with his other groin, so he’s had a bit of time out now, so it was nice to get him some minutes on the pitch. “Not ideal in terms of being down to 10 men so he didn’t get as many touches, but he was able to get some minutes into his legs and he was contributing with putting pressure on them and getting around the pitch. Good to get him on the pitch.” Yesterday, Town drew Southern League Premier Division South Bracknell Town away in the first round of the FA Cup. “Really looking forward to that,” Pert said. “I saw a YouTube clip of their players [celebrating the draw], which was great, it’s what it’s all about, the FA Cup, and these opportunities to go there and I’m really looking forward to it. Should be good.” Fancy Town going on a cup run? “Of course, obviously you want to win every game you go into. We’ll try and get as far as we can and the first game is at Bracknell, so we’ve got to take that seriously.” Town now have to start their preparations for Friday’s live Sky game against Derby County at Portman Road. “Quick turnaround, get on the bus and get the recovery started, the lads will start with that now and then we’ll start preparing from tomorrow,” he said. Were there any concerns about fielding senior players so close to Friday’s match? “I think when you’re in that robustness of playing games, you want to keep playing. “A few played tonight and did well and got their minutes in and sometimes they’re as good as training sessions, sometimes they’re better than training sessions.” Cambridge boss Mark Bonner was in no doubt that the red card was the wrong decision. “It wasn't one, it was a penalty,” he said. “It was an absolute nailed on penalty. A scandalous decision that if it was given against me, I'd be fuming.” Regarding Town, he added: “The quality of their players are excellent, and even with ten men, they make the pitch very big, because they back themselves athletically to be able to cover the ground, which they can. “You can try and think you can dominate and go and press, but once they get past that, you're scrambling, because they're so athletic.”
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