Andy Whing brands referee ’embarrassing’ after controversial Barrow defeat

Barrow boss Andy Whing was left bewildered after his 10-man side conceded three second-half goals, including two penalties, to lose 3-0 to Tranmere in League Two.

Whing called referee Andrew Miller’s decisions “embarrassing”, including a late call to send off the Bluebirds’ captain Niall Canavan for bringing down Kristian Dennis.

Dennis made it 3-0 with his 86th minute penalty after Charlie Whitaker’s free kick and Joe Ironside’s spot-kick – both given for fouls on Billy Blacker – put Rovers in control.

“I would like to appeal all three decisions,” Whing said, when asked if Barrow will consider appealing against Canavan’s dismissal. “It is shocking.

“Those decisions are embarrassing. He couldn’t wait to give a penalty. We are getting punished by stupid decisions.

“But who cares about all that? When we are on top in the first half, we have got to score.

“We just don’t seem to get off the mark and score that early goal. We always then give ourselves a mountain to climb.

“We put loads of balls into the box but are not getting on the end of them. We have had 14 shots and not scored.

“We were good in the first half but didn’t do enough. So, I am highly frustrated,” added Whing, whose side have collected just nine points from 11 home games.

Tranmere’s clean sheet was their first in 10 games, largely down to veteran keeper Joe Murphy’s three first half saves from Ben Jackson – twice – and Jack Earing.

Whitaker’s free kick, harshly awarded for an apparent push on Blacker which earned Canavan a yellow card, was curled in from 18 yards after 53 minutes.

Ironside doubled the advantage from the spot 14 minutes later, though the foul looked to have been committed outside the area, before Dennis punished Canavan’s contact with a second penalty.

“We are making progress and I can see the belief in the group growing,” said Tranmere manager Andy Crosby, who also had his name taken by referee Miller in the second half.

“That’s four games unbeaten and 10 points.

“We were deserving of the three points, the three goals and the clean sheet

“It was a good night but we want more good nights, and it is my job to keep driving improvements on and off the pitch.

“In the first half, against the wind, we stayed in the game, showed real resilience, we dealt with crosses really well and got a lot of first contacts.

“We showed good organisation to make sure we got into half time 0-0. That was a really important factor.

“In the second, we had to do all the basics again and not blame conditions. We found a brilliant moment from Charlie and real calmness from Joe and Kristian to convert penalties.”