Jones brands referee ‘a disgrace’ after Wednesday defeat

Dave Jones launched a stinging attack on referee Rob Lewis after seeing Wednesday’s unbeaten run come to an end at Crystal Palace.

Lewis awarded Palace a second-half penalty after Mark Beevers made what looked a fair tackle on Glenn Murray, with the score at 1-1. Then, after a lengthy hold-up and consulting his assistant, he reversed his decision.

The incident incensed the home crowd and Jones said: “The referee whipped up the home crowd by making that decision and then changing his mind. We had been on the front foot but suddenly we were on the back foot.

“Their lad has gone down five seconds after the tackle … and the referee and his assistant got it wrong big time.”

He added: “The referee isn’t good enough … it was too big a game for him and he needs to go on a course … it’s just not right.”

Jones, who was also angered by other decisions branded the referee “a disgrace” and said: “I’m supposed to be allowed 30 minutes before I see him at the end of a game – but I’ll need 30 hours this time.”

Of the Owls display, Jones said: “We didn’t do enough to win it today but we did enough for a point.

“The first goal was down to lazy, sloppy play from the kick off. We then created some chances – overall we didn’t do enough to win it but we did enough to earn a point.

“We had enough chances but defensively we were not at it today.”

Jones also confirmed that Reda Johnson missed the game with an ankle injury.