Exeter City manager Matt Taylor admits he is disappointed with the retrospective action the authorities have taken against defender Tom Parkes, which will see him miss three matches through suspension.
Parkes was pulled up for an apparent act of violent conduct in the closing stages of City’s 1-0 win at Stevenage last weekend and accepted the charge when it was brought against him earlier this week.
The summer signing from Carlisle United sat out Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat at Coventry City in the Carabao Cup and will be absent again when City play host to Swindon Town this weekend.
He will then complete a three-match ban when he sits out Tuesday’s trip to Boundary Park, where the Grecians face Oldham Athletic.
Speaking about the decision to punish him, Taylor said: “I’m disappointed. The referee said he didn’t see it, which is strange when the camera angle shows that he is looking directly at it.
“It’s always a difficult one because we would want to appeal, but you then risk losing him for an extra game, so it’s disappointing.
“I have dealt with it in terms of what I want to do with Tom, but it happens all the time in the penalty box. Hands are raised, he has not swung an arm in an aggressive manner, he is just trying to get the lad off him as he is also wrestling.
“You can freeze frame every single set piece and thatw ill happen nine times out of ten. Unfortunately, we now miss arguably our best defender for the next three games.”
The Grecians have kept two clean sheets in two league games since Parkes signed.
City certainly have plenty of options as to who can come in for Parkes, though, with Dean Moxey likely to start as one of the centre halves with either Gary Warren, Aaron Martin or Robbie Cundy alongside him.
