Stockport boss Jim Gannon called for more protection from referees after a stormy 1-1 draw with Wycombe in the League Two play-off semi-final.Substitute Stephen Gleeson rescued a draw for Gannon's side eight minutes from time with a stunning 25-yard volley after Delroy Facey's first-half goal for the hosts.

But in a tense atmosphere which saw a pitch invasion, a firework on the pitch and Gannon and opposing manager Paul Lambert squaring up in the technical area it was the performance of referee Darren Deadman which incensed Gannon.

He said: "We were fortunate because there were one or two challenges on our players which could have resulted in a serious injury.

"Tommy Rowe got clattered in an awful challenge and the referee has to protect the players more.

"If you want good, young players to develop and you want to see good football at this level then the referees must be stronger.

"If they don't then you will see more players in hospital."

The Hatters had more of the play in the second half and after Rowe had missed an open goal Gleeson cracked in a deserved equaliser.

Gannon was delighted with his side's attitude and predicted that home advantage in the second leg could prove key.

He said: "The lads are very disappointed with the goal we conceded but I was delighted with the response.

"We kept playing our football and we got the reward in the end.

"The way we played from the back, from box to box, made me very proud.

"That is what lower-league football should be about. Young talented players who have been coached well being given a stage to perform.

"The second leg was going to be fantastic regardless of the result.

"Our fans create a hell of an atmosphere and I can't wait."

Lambert shrugged off criticism of his side's hard-tackling image and insisted that Gleeson's late strike had not changed the face of the tie.

The former Celtic midfielder saw a combative central midfield pairing of Gary Holt and Tommy Doherty put in some meaty challenges but insisted that that was vital to establishing a lead.

He said: "I'm sure they were unhappy with some of the challenges from our boys but that's the game.

"I've never been involved as a player or manager in a game where the opposition will just give you the ball.

"The goal changes nothing.

"If someone has a four or five-goal lead then it's over but at 1-1 it makes no difference.

"We are going up there to try to win the game and we will be ready for it.

"You will not get a better game in the league this year than the one you will see up there next Saturday.

"Sometimes it is hard to be the home team and the onus can be on you to try to make the running so we will see how it goes."

Lambert came under fire from Wycombe fans following a 6-0 drubbing at Stockport back in December but insisted that the Edgeley Park atmosphere would not affect his players this time.

He said: "I've seen it all before. I used to play for a club that had more fans than Stockport can get in their ground watching us training. It will not affect us one jot, I assure you of that."

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