KARL Robinson said the level of refereeing in Oxford United’s defeat at home to Peterborough United was among the worst he’s ever seen.

Andy Woolmer showed U’s striker Matty Taylor a straight red card shortly before the hour mark after the striker tangled with Posh defender Ronnie Edwards.

The dismissal was given after a lengthy conversation between Woolmer and his assistants, with Taylor deemed to have thrown Edwards to the ground.

Robinson though was furious with the performance of the referee, and said United would appeal the red card given to Taylor.

“The refereeing inconsistency today was atrocious,” said Robinson.

“My players gave everything for each other, they’re devastated – I don’t think any player on that football pitch didn’t put a 100 per cent effort in.

“But the refereeing is up there with some of the worst I’ve seen – from an experienced referee, a Championship referee.

“He was a disgrace in every aspect of his performance – in terms of his arrogance, in his decisions that he gave.”

On the red card incident, which sparked a melee on the halfway line, Robinson said: “He doesn’t raise his hands. Matty has got pinned and he’s got hold of his Matty’s shirt, and Matty’s got hold of his shirt.

“Matty turns and grabs his shirt, and pushes him just round the midriff area.

“There’s no push into faces.

“We’re going to appeal it, we have to appeal it.”

Assessing the performance of his side, Robinson praised his players for their efforts.

United’s head coach said: “I thought we started bright, we got one or two chances, we were the better team maybe in the first half.

“Just two stupid breakaway goals that we know we have to take responsibility for.

“I don’t think any player shirked responsibility with effort, appetite, desire or passion.

“Even down to 10 men, we never at any stage went defensive.

“We kept two up top, we pushed and I thought tactically, the players took everything on board.

“Does that performance look like we’re not fighting for each other?”