REFEREE Darren Bond bore the brunt of Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough’s post-match frustration as he saw his side give away a 1-0 lead to leave them with it all to do in Wiltshire on Monday.

Clough turned his eye to the stands to berate referees’ chief Mike Riley prior to his post-match media duties after he felt the man in black made a series of howlers which cost his team on the night.

Ben Gladwin was the first to get away with a fortunate decision for the visitors after a Ryan Flynn cross from close range struck the hand of the midfielder in the box after 11 minutes.

Then, with the Blades 1-0 up in the first half and having conceded a penalty themselves to Nathan Byrne, which was saved by Mark Howard, Clough felt his side had a number of shouts to extend their lead from the spot.

The second shout came in the 32nd minute when Jamie Murphy went down under the challenge of Jack Stephens in the box, but Bond waved away all appeals.

In the second half Clough was also upset to see a challenge on Flynn by Nathan Thompson go without a foul being given before substitute Matt Done thought he had restored the hosts' lead only for the referee to pull play back for a foul on Thompson.

“I think we should have had three penalties during the game and then to concede one is a little bit galling to say the least,” said a calm, but clearly disgruntled, Clough after the match.

“Of the three penalty appeals the handball one would have been the most obvious and then the two-footed challenge on Ryan Flynn in the second half as their lad is running back with Jamie Murphy and then the disallowed goal from Matty Done.

“That is four major decisions in the game that have gone against us tonight.

“It is a shame when referees' decisions decide the game and not between two very good teams because it was a cracking game tonight.

“I thought we deserved more than the one goal and if we get that penalty early on, which is an absolute blatant handball, you never know we might go on and win the game.

“We were certainly on top and creating in the first half.

“It is going to be a tight one and we can’t afford to concede a goal and that is the main thing, but we are more than capable of going there and getting a result.”