Tilson: 'I thought it was a poor decision'
Blues boss Steve Tilson has no doubt that the decision to send off captain Adam Barrett in the 68th minute of the game against Carlisle Saturday was the wrong one.
Tilly spoke to www.southendunited.co.uk: "Unfortunately, Adam has been sent off and I thought it was a poor decision. He has tried to have a shot and misses the ball and catches's their player's leg and gets shown his second yellow card and sent off. For the first booking, he won the ball from his tackle and for me it was a poor decision."
Overall though he confirmed he was happy with the effort shown by his team and the fightback that saw the Shrimpers draw 2-2 after being two down on 13 minutes.
Tilly continued: "You cannot fault the player's effort was tremendous and while it possible (to escape relegation), we have to keep going out there and giving it a go. For the back end of the first half and the second half, the belief was still there that we can do it, with the commitment and desire shown. We have to keep working hard and the results will come."
Abbott: 'Barrett one of the best defenders in the league'
Cumbrian boss Greg Abbott agreed that the referee was harsh to give the Southend skipper his marching orders.
Abbott talked to www.echo-news.co.uk: "It looked a bit soft to me. I'm disappointed for Southend because I think he's one of the best defenders in the league and they need him."
However, at the end of the day, his team had left south-east Essex with a very important point away from Brunton Park.
Abbott concluded: "We got a draw and we haven't lost so you could say it was job done. It was disappointing to lose a two goal lead but Southend are a good, physical side with some quality players and I'm staggered there are in the situation they are."