Referee Should've Been Nowhere Near Game - Bristol City Boss Manning

Bristol City caput coach Liam Manning says nan nine had called for referee Oliver Langford to beryllium removed from their Championship play-off semi-final first limb against Sheffield United.

Langford sent disconnected Robins defender Rob Dickie conscionable earlier half-time for a foul connected Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore successful nan Bristol City punishment area.

Harrison Burrows dispatched nan consequent spot-kick and nan Blades went connected to beat their 10-man hosts 3-0 to unafraid a sizeable advantage heading into Monday's 2nd limb astatine Bramall Lane.

"A referee was put successful complaint of a crippled he should beryllium obscurity near," Manning told BBC Radio Bristol. "We called this week to emblem our concerns pinch him doing it."

Langford has issued six reddish cards successful nan past 12 games he has officiated - including 4 successful matches involving Bristol City.

He sent disconnected 2 Robins players successful their tie astatine Oxford successful February and past dismissed Sunderland's Trai Hume successful a City triumph astatine Ashton Gate successful April.

The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) declined to respond to Manning's comments, but pointed to its appointments policy, external, which determines nan eligibility of referees.

The BBC has besides contacted nan EFL for comment.

"He was nan 1 who sent [Liam] Walsh disconnected nan different week astatine Luton v Coventry, past it was changed because it shouldn't person been a consecutive red," Manning added.

That reddish paper was overturned - though nary of Langford's different caller dismissals person been successfully appealed against.

Speaking astir nan incident successful Thursday's play-off game, Manning added: "It's almost for illustration [Langford] can't hold to get [the card] out.

"First and foremost we didn't take sides good capable starring to america being exposed astatine nan backmost and past Rob connected nan recovery, if he pulls him, adjacent enough, but he really kicks nan ball.

"The only logic it should beryllium a reddish if there's nary effort to play nan ball. I don't cognize really you tin effort to not play nan shot and footwear it; it's madness."