Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson fumes at Lee Probert after his decision to award the Swans a penalty

On a week when "respect the referee" was on the lips of many media pundits and commentators, Wilson launched a scatching attack on referee Lee Probert who gave Swansea a penalty when the game was balanced at 1-1.

It was not a penalty that the Swans had appealed for and they appeared as surprised as Hartlepool when the decision was given but it didn't stop Jason Scotland grabbing his 29th goal of the season from the penalty spot to give the Swans the lead - a lead they were not to relinquish.

But Wilson believes that his side were cheated by the decision and that it changed the course of the game.   "You talk about self control in football games and this new Respect thing that is coming through, but how can you accept a decision like that which is truly awful," said Wilson.

"It was a really difficult situation to accept and I thought the players were commendable in how they handled it.

"I think the lads showed great restraint. There was nobody booked and they have just asked him a question.

"The fans have shown their disgust from it and quite rightly so."

He added: "No matter how many times I watch again it over the weekend, I will not believe the decision he has made.

"I hope he (Probert) knows he has dropped a rick. If he doesn't know, he has got a problem.

"The sad thing about it is he has had a good, clear view of it. He has got to stand up and be counted because he has cost us the game.

"For whatever reason, he has not seen what has happened. Maybe that is why he is refereeing at the level he is.

"The game has been handed to Swansea. I am not knocking them because they are a good side.

"That decision has given them a great boost of confidence. Going in at half-time they couldn't have asked for anything better.

"If we had got that decision, it would still have been a bad decision.

"There was no claim for it. They knew Ben had got the ball and timed his tackle superbly."

Photo: Action Images

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