Danny Cowley, the manager of Colchester United, has expressed his frustration with match officials after forward Micah Mbick sustained a potentially serious injury during the game against Newport County. The 19-year-old, on loan from Charlton Athletic, was stretchered off in the 35th minute following a tackle by Cameron Evans, just four days after returning from a previous injury.
The club is currently awaiting updates on the severity of Mbick’s latest injury, with the young forward having made a significant impact this season with nine goals in 26 appearances.
Cowley lamented, “It seems quite serious. It was a shocking tackle, and I’m fed up with the officials – the referee didn’t even call a foul.” He continued, stating that both the referee and fourth official were in clear positions to witness the excessive force used in the tackle, which he deemed completely uncontrolled. “The initial foot was a block tackle, but the second foot came in high on his knee. It was an awful challenge, and the officials need to prioritize player safety,” he added.
Colchester managed to secure a 2-1 victory in the match, offering a much-needed morale boost following two consecutive losses that had threatened their League Two playoff ambitions. “In the first half, we really took charge of the game, and I’m proud of how we continued to fight through the loss of Micah. Although losing a great player is tough, we were fortunate to bring on another quality player in Jack Payne,” Cowley noted.
Additionally, Cowley condemned the racist abuse some of his players faced from supporters during the match at Rodney Parade. He remarked, “I don’t blame Newport County; there are always a few idiots at every football club. This is not a positive reflection on society.” This incident was one of two instances of racist remarks directed at players during the day, the other occurring in a high-stakes League One match between Cardiff and Lincoln.