Gallery: Oxford striker should have seen red - Westley
Boro boss Graham Westley feels James Constable should not have been on the pitch as the Oxford striker helped his side to a 2-1 win on Saturday. Constable had a running feud with Boro defender Jon Ashton resulting in both players being cautioned before
Boro boss Graham Westley feels James Constable "should not have been on the pitch" as the Oxford striker helped his side to a 2-1 win on Saturday.
Constable had a running feud with Boro defender Jon Ashton resulting in both players being cautioned before the Oxford man clattered into Scott Laird in what looked like another bookable offence at the very least.
But referee Andrew Bennett failed to produce the red card and Constable went on to play a major part in United's victory having a hand in both their goals.
Westley believes the referee was affected by the partisan home crowd.
"One of the reasons why it is such a difficult place to come to is because of the amount of decisions that go against you here," said Westley.
"Constable was instrumental in their second goal, backing in and holding the ball up, but he should not have been on the pitch for me.
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"He smashed into Ashton and then there was the one across Scott Laird - for me they were red card offences.
"When you add them together and he only gets a yellow, I just think it's wrong.
"When your centre half is carrying his cheekbone and your left back has been smashed - when those types of things are going on and they are getting away with it, I just don't think it's right.
"There were decisions that needed to be made that weren't made."
Westley insisted there were positives to take despite his side losing their unbeaten record this season as Boro created plenty of chances to leave with a share of the spoils at the very least.
"We let them attack their home fans in the first half and on the whole I think that worked well.
"Certainly in the second half we managed to get on the front foot and their second goal came against the run of play. On chances, it was very much in our favour.
"We think there are things we can do to improve our performance but we put in a lot of hard work and could have easily come away remaining unbeaten.
