Steve Bruce bemoans ‘horrible’ penalty decision as Blackpool undone at the death

Blackpool boss Steve Bruce branded the stoppage-time penalty which allowed Luton to snatch a 2-2 draw in their League One clash a “terrible decision”.

A goal in each half from CJ Hamilton gave Bruce’s side a 2-0 advantage after 53 minutes and the chance of a first home league win over the Hatters since 2002.

But Jordan Clark reduced the arrears with a deflected shot before fellow replacement Gideon Kodua won and then converted a spot-kick a minute into added time. The pair were part of a triple substitution shortly after Hamilton’s second goal.

“I know it is a difficult job, but that one baffled me,” said Bruce of referee Martin Woods’ decision to award a penalty for a foul by Olly Casey.

“You could see Olly had played the ball because it went forward. I honestly thought he (the referee) was going to send their boy off. I thought it was a horrific challenge.

“It is a terrible decision and he couldn’t wait to give it. He even waved play on, they had a shot and he then brought it back.

“When he sees it again, we will get an email and they’ll say, ‘We are sorry’. But in the context of the game and what it is, it is a poor decision that cost us dearly.

“Their first goal was a horrible deflection and I didn’t think we were in any real danger. Once they got the first one it gave them some impetus, but it is a horrible penalty.

“It was cruel on us because we haven’t had the best of times. And when things are not going for you, you get decisions like we had tonight.”

Blackpool remain in the relegation zone on goal difference, while Luton are up to seventh.

Town’s comeback is unlikely to do much to ease the pressure on manager Matt Bloomfield, but he was pleased with his side’s late response.

And he countered Bruce’s claim on the penalty by saying: “I thought Gideon flicked it (the ball) inside and there was a collision from the defender.

“That’s my view. I thought Gideon was fantastic. He has an edge and resilience about him.”

On the performance, Bloomfield added: “This group is evolving. We are not the finished article yet, but we are showing some good shoots.

“There are elements we need to get better at. But for team spirit and camaraderie, results like that can only do us good.

“I was disappointed we found ourselves 2-0 down. Apart from the first 15 minutes we had a lot of territory in the opposition’s half and it never felt the game was away from us, even at 2-0.”