Referee James Durkin’s decision to give Swindon two late penalties, according to Johnnie Jackson, was “scandalous.” AFC Wimbledon lost Tuesday night after blowing a third straight lead.
Marcus Browne’s goal put the Dons ahead 1-0 going into the 88th minute, but in the last two minutes of regular time, Joe Lewis pulled Harry Smith inside the area, and Kabongo Tshimanga scored.
When John-Joe O’Toole was sent off for a second yellow for handballing a shot on the line in the 95th minute, Tshimanga had another chance to win all three points from the penalty spot.
For the third consecutive game, Jackson’s team lost the lead when former Petebrough forward Tshimanga scored.
Now, five points separate the South Londoners from the automatic spots.
“Scandalous,” said Jackson.
“I don’t talk about referees – I like to talk about what we could have done better. There is stuff we could have done.
“We were good for maybe 25 minutes in the second half, but that’s not long enough in the game.
“That’s disappointing and we could have done better on that front.
“But the two incidents there are a joke. Harry Smith pulls Joe Lewis. Joe then gets a toe in, and one is considered to be a foul, and the other isn’t.
They then launch a ball and their lad drags Owen Goodman down – no foul is given. “Then John Joe is down on the floor and the guy smashes the ball at him from two yards out and the referee gives handball. “I can’t explain it. We’re a bit shell-shocked right now because we didn’t see the game panning out like that. “For it to be taken away from us with a referee making decisions like that is tough to take.
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