Doncaster Rovers FC

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• Founded:1879
• Manager:Sean O'Driscoll

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O'Driscoll stands by O'Kelly

30 Nov 2009 - 16:22:07

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Doncaster Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll defended his number two Richard O'Kelly after he was sent to the stands during the 4-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

O'Kelly was angry that a foul had not been awarded in the build-up to Forest's opening goal, with O'Driscoll feeling that the situation could have been handled more sympathetically.

He told the Nottingham Evening Post: "I thought it was a push in the back, the fourth official thought it was shoulder to shoulder, but the actions of the referee towards Richard O'Kelly were like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It was absolutely ridiculous.

"Richard was complaining about the push and, in a difficult division where it is hard for us to play the way we want to, we felt we were okay to do that.

"Do you want people to be robots? As long as you don't abuse people or swear, I don't see the problem. Yes, I suppose he went out of the technical area, I accept that.

"But it is not as if we have a reputation for causing trouble. I felt it could have been managed better than it was."