Wycombe Wanderers manager Bloomfield has revealed he is ‘not sure’ if he will appeal Josh Scowen’s red card following the club’s 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers.
The Chairboys captain was sent off on the hour mark for accidentally connecting with Sam Finley’s face with his boot when clearing the ball.
After the Rovers skipper received treatment, referee Leigh Doughty sent Scowen off for the challenge.
It was the first time that Wanderers had a player red-carded at Adams Park in 996 days – a run that days back to April 2021.
61 - 🟥 Wow, out of nowhere, Scowen is shown a straight red for a foul on Finley.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) January 1, 2024
Scowen is fuming, chants of 'you don't know what you're doing are being sung' and from a position of power, this looks dangerous for Wycombe.
🟦 1-0🏴☠️#Chairboys #BRFC
He said: “I’ll be honest, I thought the referee had given a foul in Josh’s favour as he got the ball and then the collision happened.
“It was on the blind side so I didn’t see it but I saw all the blood afterwards on the lad’s face.
“I genuinely didn’t think a red was going to get given as he kept his head down, and Josh got the ball.
“That was surprising for me and then to be given a yellow card myself was even more surprising, as I didn’t say or do anything derogatory.
“I don’t know if we’ll be able to appeal Josh’s red card, but if I’m able to appeal my yellow then I might.
“I took my medicine against Exeter on the first day of the season but it’s frustrating when you see different standards in different games.
“There was an incident at Orient where a manager held onto the ball and we’ve been told that leads to punishment and it wasn’t, then I’m booked today [January 1] as the referee claims I’ve done something but I haven’t.
“If I can appeal it, I will because on both my girls’ lives, I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The victory over the Pirates was Wanderers’ first in 13 league match and their first at Adams Park since September.
996 days - That's how long it's been since Wycombe last had a player sent off at Adams Park
— James Richings (@James_BFP) January 1, 2024
April 10, 2021 - When Josh Knight was sent off in a 3-1 home loss against Luton in the Championship.
It's all Rovers now.#Chairboys #BRFC
Additionally, if the Chairboys failed to win, it would have matched their Football League record of 13 outings without a win – a run that dates back from January to March 2004.
Bloomfield said: “The boys reacted well after what had been a testing week as they gave the fans something to cheer about.
“I’m very proud of the team.
“I want us to be press high, playing on the front foot whilst having that intensity and enthusiasm.
“I told the boys to stick to the discipline that we had one Friday night at Leyton Orient but have that creativity and in some ways, a carefree attitude.
“We had McCleary and Sadlier in the wide position, I like Dale in the number 10 as he has huge potential and there is no one better than Sam when deliveries come in.
“We deserved the win as the performance was very good.”
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