Jon Whitney rues disallowed goal following Walsall draw

The Saddlers, who remain unbeaten at home this season, took a first-half lead at the Banks’s Stadium when Erhun Otumer curled in a delightful free-kick from 25-yards.

The Tangerines hit back through substitute Viv Solomon-Otabor after the interval.

But the game’s big talking point arrived just moments later when Jon Guthrie rose highest to power in a Joe Edwards’ corner.

To the shock of the crowd though, the goal was ruled out by referee Tom Nield with Whitney still unsure why after the final whistle.

“It was a perfectly good goal and the officials wouldn’t give me an explanation about why it was disallowed,” The boss said.

“I said to the fourth official ‘let him just tell me why is that disallowed?’

“It was a routine that we worked on because we saw them as a little but vulnerable from set-pieces. It should have been a good, legitimate winning goal.

“I won’t say any more. If I said my true feelings, I’d be getting in trouble, so I will just let other people look at it.

“They were talking about a foul on the keeper but all Tyler (Roberts) is doing is standing his ground.

“Just look at the keeper’s reaction – as the ball goes in the net, he’s complaining to his defenders for letting Jon get a free run.

“He’s not even appealing to the referee because he knows they have lost the runner.

“The timing is great and it’s a perfectly good winning goal – but we didn’t get it.

“Like I have to, I hope everybody looks at themselves and thinks ‘I can improve on that’.”

The result ­– Walsall’s fourth consecutive draw at home – was greeted by boos by the home fans with some sections of the Saddlers support also calling for Whitney to be sacked.

And while the boss said he is happy to take criticism, he doesn’t feel it should be aimed at the players.

“I don’t think the players should come off to boos,” Whitney continued.

“I thought the players left it all out on the pitch. At times the quality could have been a bit better but give Blackpool a bit of credit as well – they have put a lot of good teams to bed this year.

“I’ve watched a lot of their games and they’ve dominated – and if they win their game in hand, they are probably in the top eight.

“I thought we limited them to very few chances and deserved to win in the end.”

On the criticism from the crowd aimed towards him, Whitney said: “You never know, if you stay positive, what will happen.

“Just stay with the players and if you want to make a statement at the end, do it then.

“I will stay out and take that if you want – I won’t run in and hide.

“I’ll stand and listen to the criticism, but leave the players because they gave everything out there.

“They were one refereeing decision away from winning the game.”

Overall, Whitney felt the game was a keenly contest clash.

“I thought it was a really tightly-contested game,” he added.

“It was a bit scrappy in midfield because that’s what they do really well.

“They’ve brought in Jay Spearing who is vastly experienced and Jimmy Ryan who is someone who can really dictate play.

“I thought we stifled them quite a bit in the first half and created some chances – we should have snuck it when Erhun (Oztumer) got in at the near post and the set-piece would have been a good winning goal.”