YOKER Athletic player/manager Steven Reilly slammed the refereeing decisions which he felt cost his side the chance of a Scottish Cup upset at Pollok on Saturday.

Reilly took his team to Newlandsfield Park hoping to upset the odds against his former side. But the Premier League giants prevailed with a 3-1 victory.

However Reilly was upset with a penalty decision which ultimately led to the Whe Ho going one down. Reilly was then sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession with eight minutes to go and Yoker trailing 2-1.

The centre back insists his side didn’t get the rub of the green on the day.

He said: “I thought 3-1 flattered Pollok to be honest. The second half performance in particular from us was great, we could have nicked something.

“The second yellow for me has affected it because they go on to get the third goal and kill the game. I’m disappointed in myself but the referee has a lot to answer for.

“It was harsh, the first one he gives for dissent. A decision goes against us for handball which was never a handball. I ran 20 yards to question him and he booked me before I even opened my mouth.

“My first challenge of the game he books me, I win the ball, Robbie Winters goes down as if I shot him basically. The penalty was dubious as well but that’s the way things have been going recently.” Yoker have now been knocked out the West of Scotland and Scottish Cups. Reilly has a squad of 24 at his disposal and with less games to contend with, he admits that players may move on in the coming months.

Whe Ho are back to league action this week with a trip to the league’s bottom side Bellshill. After three league games without a win, Reilly insists his men can afford no further slip ups.

He said: “The squad will dwindle down, I know some of the guys will probably come and see me before I go to them to be honest. These decisions are part of management. We’ll probably be down to 18 or 19 by the turn of the year, if players do leave we will still look to strengthen.

“Bellshill is a massive game for us. We can’t afford any more slip ups if we want to be in touch with the top three which is our aim.”