Bees striker ‘used his experience’ to earn his side a penalty

Stevenage manager Gary Smith says Brentford striker Clinton Morrison did well to ‘manufacture’ his side’s first penalty in Saturday’s game, while Smith’s opposite number Uwe Rosler says he thought Boro defender Jamaal Lascelles should have been sent off for his foul on the front man.

Morrison got in front of the on-loan Nottingham Forest defender in the first half and went down under contact, earning his side a penalty and the young full-back a yellow card. Clayton Donaldson hit that spot kick against the crossbar while Sam Saunders later struck a second penalty against the post as Stevenage went on to win 2-1, but speaking afterwards Smith says Morrison used all of his experience to make the most of the opportunity to win his side a penalty.

“I think Clinton Morrison has done ever so well like he did on many occasions in the first half,” Smith said. “He got his body in front of a defender and...what he does well is he uses his experience.

“I’m not sure Jamaal fouls him. I think he stops, I think Jamaal runs into the back of him and he uses all of his experience and he goes over. I’m not saying it’s not a penalty, but it’s a manufactured one that those type of players are capable of achieving.”

Rosler says he thought it was a penalty, and added that Boro should have been reduced to 10 men.

“[The] referee had to do what he had to do, give us a penalty, but then he should have shown more bravery,” the Bees boss said. “[The] explanation of what he said, I can’t agree and for me the player should have been off. But it’s up to us to score from two penalties so we don’t have to look at the referee or somebody else.”