‘We’ll appeal it’ – AFC Wimbledon boss baffled by Ronan Curtis’ red card in Harrogate draw

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson was left baffled by the decision of referee Ben Speddie to send off Ronan Curtis during Friday’s 1-1 draw with Harrogate.

Curtis was issued with his marching orders in the 61st minute by referee Speedie just three minutes after equalising for the Dons for a foul on Levi Sutton.

The 28-year-old scored his fourth of the season since signing as a free agent in January when he collected the ball inside the area after a Jake Reeves free-kick to score.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Jackson.

“He’s not got his studs up. He’s trying to toe-poke the ball from the side.

“The referee is the wrong side. The linesman, who has got a great view of it, has not been I involved in the decision process.

“It baffles me how he has given that. You have got to be absolutely certain that is violent conduct or serious foul play.

“It’s not. It robs us of the chance to go on and getting all three points.

“For the referee to have made a call in a big game like this at this stage of the season when there is so much riding on it, is a tough one to swallow.”

The Dons head to top-of-the-table Stockport on Monday and Jackson is unsure whether the appeal would be complete in time for Curtis to be involved.

“We’ll appeal it because we have to,”

“I can’t see how a player should miss the rest of the game – let alone another three – for something like that.

“If we don’t appeal it, he has a three-game ban.”