‘Schoolboy stuff’ - Tranmere boss furious with referee decision during Newcastle United tie

Tranmere Rovers boss Micky Mellon believes Newcastle United’s equaliser shouldn’t have stood after a “blatant block” on his defender.

The League Two side took a surprise lead on 21 minutes through Elliott Nevitt but were later pegged back via Jamaal Lascelles’ leveller.

Chris Wood went on to score a winner for the Magpies, who set up a third round Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace at St James’ Park.

While Mellon was left proud of his players, the Scot was adamant there was a foul when Kieran Trippier delivered the corner for Lascelles to score.

Mellon criticised referee Anthony Backhouse for a “schoolboy” error.

He said: “I don’t want to take anything away from our lads’ performance but we spoke about blocks in the 18-yard box and there is a blatant block on my centre-back.

“We told the referee, the fourth official, linesman and we’ve been done undone by a block at the back post for their equaliser.

“It’s disappointing and a bit naive from the referee because everyone in football would have seen what happened - it’s a blatant block.

“Referees have got to be better. These are important evenings for my players and they’ve got to get an awful lot right.

“It’s schoolboy stuff for referees not to see that.

“Don’t get me wrong, Newcastle are a really good side but everything has got to go right for us in order to get a result.

“We expect the referee to get those decisions right.”

Mellon insisted he could not fault his players, who he feels competed against Eddie Howe’s side.

He added: “Huge amount of credit to the players and fans. It was a Tranmere cup tie for us. I couldn’t fault anything the players did.

“We wanted to make sure we made it a contest and the players absolutely did that from the start. We set our stall out and they stuck to the game plan really well.

To come away disappointed at the end shows you where we’re at.”