(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
By Alex Beard
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom has been handed a two match touchline ban after being sent off in the Tykes‘ win over Millwall before the international break.
Heckingbottom reacted to Millwall’s Lee Gregory scoring what he felt was a softly-awarded penalty, and was given his marching orders soon afterwards.
However, after the game the 40-year-old confessed himself baffled at the reason for his dismissal: “I made sure none of the players went up to the referee at half-time,” he said, “The staff’s job was to get them all away from the referee and I just approached him by myself.
“When I came out in the second half to go in the technical area he told me I couldn’t go in there. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I don’t know why I wasn’t allowed in there in the second half.
“It was a clean tackle [from Matty Pearson], we could all see it. When I watched it back it is so apparent with the Millwall’s players’ reactions, but the linesman’s flag went straight up.
“They were given the penalty before the referee could even make a decision. It’s just one of those things.”
The ban means Heckingbottom will miss the club’s game against Middlesbrough this weekend, as well as their clash with Hull City a week later.
