Fleetwood boss Barton claims two Peterborough United players should have seen red

Barton claimed that both Frankie Kent and Nathan Thompson were guilty of elbowing his players in the second half and that they both should have been red carded, but both players were handed yellows.

Kent certainly clattered into centre-back Sam Stubbs, although he seemed to connect with his shoulder rather than elbow, while Thompson and Ched Evans were involved in three or four aerial challenges where the Fleetwood man ended up on the deck.

On all occasions, Thompson looked to only have eyes for the ball, but Barton felt the Posh defender was guilty of deliberate foul play, and that Sarginson's officiating meant the game was 'dangerous for players'.

"I'm disappointed. At 90 minutes the game is over - we're 1-0 up and travelling back to Highbury with a well deserved three points," said the Fleetwood boss, after late goals from Jack Taylor and Sam Szmodics had sealed a dramatic win for Posh.

"I thought we controlled the game in the midst of a referee who had, from our view, a really poor afternoon.

"I wouldn't really say he ever had control (of the match). It was a good football game first-half. Then you have Frankie Kent elbow Sam Stubbs right across the face. He gives him a yellow.

"Then Thompson's had two elbows on Ched. The first one you could possibly say is due to the challenge.

"The second one there's no doubt about it, he's absolutely just aimed to elbow him in the head.

"The fourth official and linesman on our side are shocked that he hasn't sent him off. I'm really, really disappointed because that flipped the game."

Fleetwood's management team certainly let Sarginson know what they thought during the game as they were pretty vocal throughout, their regular complaints clear for all to hear in the near-deserted stadium.

The game got more and more niggly as it wore on, but Barton felt his team were well worthy of all three points having gone ahead on 55 minutes through Callum Camps, and would have got them if the referee had 'policed the game properly'.

"We were the best football team, popped them off," he said.

"They've scored two goals in stoppage time, and credit to them as they've kept going for the manager.

"But when the referee doesn't police the game properly and allows the challenges he allowed today, it's dangerous for players. I'm absolutely disgusted in some of the challenges that were made.

"It cost us three points."

Posh boss Darren Ferguson refused to be drawn on Barton's comments after the match, although he did concede one of the reasons he took Thompson off was the fact that he was living dangerously on a yellow card.

Asked about Barton's claims on the Thompson challenge, Ferguson said: "I have not seen it, I have only seen it once and it was live, so I need to see it again.

"I can't comment on it if I haven't seen it, it would be wrong of me."