Chris Coleman slammed the performance of referee Phil Dowd after Coventry lost their 100 per cent start to the season with a 3-0 Coca-Cola Championship defeat to Bristol City at the Ricoh Arena.
Sky Blues boss Coleman was aggrieved by the Staffordshire official's first-half display which saw the visitors take a controversial lead through Coventry old-boy Dele Adebola and then have a penalty appeal waved away after Liam Fontaine pulled Clinton Morrison's shirt.
Adebola, a Coventry player for four-and-a-half years before his move to Bristol City in January, clashed with goalkeeper Keiren Westwood as the pair challenged for Michael McIndoe's left-wing cross.
The coming-together on the penalty spot left Westwood motionless on the ground, and as Coventry players appealed for Dowd to award a free-kick in their favour, Adebola manoeuvred himself from his position on the floor to poke the ball over the line.
The restart was held up by several minutes as Westwood, visibly shaken, tried to regain his composure. However, he had to be replaced by Andy Marshall.
Coventry thought they should have been awarded a penalty in the 36th minute when Fontaine appeared to pull Morrison to the ground as he advanced towards goal.
Coleman was so incensed by Dowd's decision not to point to the spot that he was sent from the touchline for his protests.
Summing up his side's defeat, Coleman said: "Disappointing. Traumatic. Frustrating. And it was all caused by the referee's first-half performance, which affected the end result.
"I thought his first-half performance was abysmal. We thought we should have had a free-kick for their first goal.
"Keiren Westwood has concussion and a dislocated finger following the collision.
"Then, I thought it was a penalty on Clinton Morrison. If he doesn't get pulled back then he is going to put the ball in the back of the net.
"We don't get the penalty. I lose my temper and he sends me off. Fair enough, maybe I deserve that for my reaction.
"But it wasn't just one decision, that had been coming and it was decision after decision.
"The players did well to hold their temper because they were frustrated too. I didn't, but I will take whatever the sanction is against me."
Coleman added: "But what happens to him after that first-half performance? Phil Dowd is a referee I have had before and he has had some very good matches, but not this one.
"He won't get a punishment. Referees should be assessed and the poor ones at the end of the season should be demoted. He has had an absolute nightmare and he is going to get away with it whereas I am going to get banned."
In contrast, Bristol City boss Gary Johnson felt Dowd had a "good game".
"Maybe the home crowd won't agree with me, but if you analyse the major incidents I think he has got most of them right," Johnson said.
"I have felt for the last couple of years that the referee standard is getting better."
Johnson praised Adebola following his display against his former club.
The big striker scored one goal and made another for McIndoe before he was replaced in the 76th minute by Steve Brooker, who scored the Robins' third goal in injury-time at the end of the game.
"He has been brave to challenge for the first goal where their keeper has unfortunately got injured, and he has shown his power again for the second goal.
"The thing for me about Dele is the great reception he got from the home supporters at the start of the game.
"You know the type of personality then of the player when he leaves a club and the fans still react to him like that.
"It is credit to Dele that happened and it is one of the reasons I bought him to our club and he is going to help us to get where we want to go, and has done already."
