Warnock blames ref

Leeds manager Neil Warnock voiced his displeasure after referee Tony Bates rejected a strong first-half penalty shout in the 1-0 defeat to Blackpool.

Angel Martinez struck his first goal for the Seasiders 10 minutes from time to see off a spirited effort from the visitors, who were reduced to 10 men when Darren O'Dea collected his second booking in the closing stages. A key moment came moments before the interval when Leeds top scorer Ross McCormack got goal-side of Stephen Crainey before going down under the Blackpool full-back's challenge, but Bates was unmoved. "I thought it was a penalty," said Warnock. "The ref said 'there was something not quite right' - I don't know what that means. "It's a booking if he thinks he dives or it's a corner kick if their defender's got a touch, but on the video the defender's got nowhere near the ball - he's just taken Ross down." He added: "I couldn't fault the effort, the effort was fantastic. It's just a matter of being patient really. We are lacking in certain areas and we can't do anything about that until the summer, so roll on the summer."