Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield has admitted that the penalty won and scored by Oxford United was ‘tough to take’, as the spoils were shared in the M40 derby.
Cameron Brannagan’s 97th minute penalty rescued the Us a penalty in a 2-2 draw with the Chairboys, in which eight yellow cards were shown.
United boss, Liam Manning, was also sent to the stands during the match which saw Wanderers win and score two spot-kicks themselves.
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Luke Leahy, who bagged himself a brace with the penalty kicks, was then alleged to have ‘fouled’ Mark Harris in injury time which set up Oxford’s late equaliser.
Never in doubt from Leahy pic.twitter.com/jEJwzNoLlH
— James Richings (@James_BFP) October 28, 2023
Bloomfield said: “I’m so proud to be the manager of this football team because of how we played.
“We wanted to come here and press as we wanted to mark our mark on the game and we did that early on.
“There was a slight change in the balance after Oxford scored and for about 10 minutes, we had to hold on for a bit.
READ MORE: 'He wanted to be centre of attention' - Leahy SLAMS ref as Wycombe draw at Oxford
“I told the boys at half-time that we needed to come out strong and we did that.
🏹 Leahy's second penalty in today's draw at Oxford.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) October 28, 2023
🔊 Listen to that Wycombe roar.#Chairboys #OUFC pic.twitter.com/xwwp1frOvZ
“Luke is so disappointed because of the penalty that I have told him to get his head up, as he has been an unbelievable signing for this club.
“Not just as a player, but as a leader, an influence and as someone who can contribute on both ends of the pitch.
“So to have the responsibility and calmness to take not one, but two penalties, in a big occasion in front of our supporters was brilliant.”
READ MORE: Three penalties awarded as Oxford and Wycombe share the spoils in entertaining derby
On the Oxford penalty, Bloomfield added: “It was soft and it’s tough [to take].
Luke Leahy: "The game was good for 97 minutes but I can just tell that the referee was waiting to give it [a penalty].
— James Richings (@James_BFP) October 28, 2023
"You couldn’t speak to the referee at all.
"I think he wanted to be centre of attention."#Chairboys #OUFC https://t.co/qVqlmJTENH
“It’s hard for the refs as there is so much for them to think about.
“They have to give out bookings for things that aren’t bookings, the increasingly long added time, which ball we can use, which manager they can send off this week…it’s tough.
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“They have big decisions to make and I feel sorry for them due to the extra rules they have to implement, but when it comes so close to a victory and you have a penalty get given against you for something like that, we have to feel aggrieved.
“We were very close to the victory but we feel disappointed to not leave here with the win.
“But my overriding emotion today is pride.”
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