FURIOUS Tranmere manager John Aldridge is urging Rovers' supporters to write to the Football Association to demand their money back, in the wake of Bank Holiday Monday's 3-1 defeat by Sheffield United at Prenton Park.

The former Republic of Ireland international striker described match official Scott Mathieson's performance as "the worst refereeing display I've seen in my career!"

Mr Aldridge, who always speaks from the heart, is aware his comments could face a disrepute charge from the FA, but scathing comments or not, he has a case about the below standard refereeing during Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Port Vale and then Sheffield United.

Centre-half Clint Hill was harshly dismissed at Port Vale, where 10-man Rovers lost to a solitary Tony Naylor strike, in front of 4,657 spectators.

If the manager was fuming on Saturday, he was past boiling point on Monday! A disappointing Prenton Park crowd of just 5,436 witnessed a pulsating first-half in which everything happened.

Abysmal defending by Tranmere allowed Paul Devlin to score the first from a corner, and former Sunderland striker Martin Smith scored a fabulous second, although Mr Aldridge was adamant "it was well offside!"

Rovers striker David Kelly was denied two blatant penalties when he was twice fouled in the penalty area and, to cap it all, French midfielder Georges Santos was sent-off for reckless behaviour.

He lunged in at Sheffield United defender Shaun Derry, once when the referee wasn't looking and, minutes later, with a second challenge right in front of the official.

Derry reacted, Santos punched Derry, sparking off a free for all boxing match. When the party pieces had calmed down, full-back Derry was stretchered off and United manager Adrian Heath revealed afterwards his player couldn't open one of his eyes. Santos can now expect a heavy fine and suspension.

Rovers' fans were infuriated by the sending off, claiming Sheffield defender Lee Sandford should have been red carded, too, for punching.

Said Mr Aldridge: "Georges was sent off when he got the ball. He lunged in with a heavy challenge, but he got the ball, and then the referee didn't send the Sheffield United player off as well! The second goal was clearly offside and we had three blatant penalties turned down!"

He added: "I feel sorry for the lads and I am asking all our supporters to write to the FA to ask for their money back. It can't carry on like this, football is being ruined and it makes you want to cry, it really does. It makes managers and supporters walk away."

Steve Yates scored to give Rovers hope, but any chance of a comeback evaporated when more sloppy defending from a corner gave Devlin his second goal. Clint Hill should have had a second-half penalty but that, too, was not given.

Tranmere, with suspensions looming for Andy Thompson, Clint Hill and Georges Santos travel to Barnsley on Friday night (brought forward because of the England match on Saturday), kick-off 7.45pm.

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