Blackpool boss Neil Critchley felt his side were denied a “clear penalty” during their 1-0 defeat at Wanderers.

George Thomason got the decisive goal 16 minutes from time with a thumping strike from outside the box.

The midfielder was also involved in the incident that left Critchley frustrated in his post-match interview. He insisted referee Ben Toner had made the wrong call.

“I have to say, for me there is a clear handball and a penalty,” said the Blackpool chief.

“I have watched it back and Hubby (James Husband) heads it from the corner. The player has his arm right above his head, the referee can see it.

“He heads it straight against his arm and it was going towards the goal. The one big decision the referee had to make today, he has got it wrong.”

Critchley added: “You need those things to go for you in a game of fine margins. It is a clear penalty.

“The lad is falling backwards, he puts his arm up. Hubby comes running in, not marked, and heads it straight onto his arm because it is so close.

“Maybe the referee doesn’t see it but I was up straight away from the side, I thought it was handball. It is right above his head, it is a clear handball. He should give it and he doesn’t.”

Blackpool failed to test Nathan Baxter in the Bolton goal, although Karamoko Dembele was denied by the woodwork after combining with Jordan Rhodes in the opening stages.

“I thought it was a really good game between two good teams, played in good spirit,” the manager explained.

“It has taken a fantastic strike from outside the box to decide it. I can’t fault the way we played and our effort, I have actually been angry after some of the games we have won this season.

“We are disappointed to win any game and with the following we had, you want to send them hope happy. But performance-wise, I think we contributed to a good game today.”