Cooper fury at Thompson ban and Ranger doubtful for JPT tie (From Swindon Advertiser)

Cooper fury at Thompson ban and Ranger doubtful for JPT tie

5:00am Saturday 15th February 2014 in Sport By Sam Morshead

SWINDON Town manager Mark Cooper was left fuming at referee Darren Sheldrake’s decision to book Nathan Thompson for “adopting an aggressive attitude” during last night’s goalless draw with Colchester United.

Thompson was shown his 10th yellow card of the campaign in the 70th minute at the County Ground, meaning the right-back will now have to serve a two-game suspension with no possibility of appeal.

Cooper was informed by Sheldrake that the defender was cautioned for his body language during an incident which saw U’s midfielder Sanchez Watt dismissed for aiming a headbutt in his direction and the Town boss was livid in his post-match press conference.

“It’s an atrocious decision,” he said. “At the time I saw and it thought ‘he hasn’t done anything’ and for the referee to tell me he’s booked him for adopting an aggressive attitude – now what is that?

“For me that’s going to punch someone or going to headbutt someone, not walking away with your hands up to protect your face. I’m going to go and see the referee, ask him to look at the DVD and explain it to me. We can’t appeal a yellow card, it’s ridiculous. It’s shocking.

“I’ve got my boots, I can play right-back, kick one or two and away we go.”

Meanwhile, Nile Ranger is now rated “doubtful” by Cooper ahead of the visit of Peterborough United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy southern section area final second leg on Monday night, after picking up a hamstring injury.

Ranger was forced off with the problem just before half-time last night and will be assessed by the Swindon medical staff this morning.

Cooper cut a frustrated figure at the end of the stalemate with Colchester, saying: “We dominated it from start to finish. I’ll have an argument with anyone who says we didn’t. We deserved to win but you have to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Finally, Town yesterday confirmed Miles Storey’s loan move to Shrewsbury Town – as revealed by the Advertiser, with Cooper saying: “He’s been pestering may and rightly so that he wants to play, and he’s got a fantastic opportunity to go to Shrewsbury. Let’s see how he does.”