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Wigan Defender Steven Caldwell Blames Referee Martin Atkinson For Calling Penalties in Manchester United’s Favor

After losing to Manchester United on Saturday, Wigan defender Steven Caldwell had a few choice words for referee Martin Atkinson.

Caldwell was angry about the red cards that teammates Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega received, along with a non-call against Man U, according to the Wigan Evening Post.

"[I] thought it was a stonewall penalty and I'm certain that if it had been a Manchester United player it would have been a penalty," Caldwell told the Evening Post of the non-call. "I said that to the referee at halftime, and he said he felt that Charlie [N'Zogbia] went down far too easily."

The defender said he thought the crowd reaction influenced Atkinson’s penalty calls.

"I just felt the referee could have shown a bit of leniency," Caldwell continued. "Maybe the pressure from the crowd and whatever meant he sent him off."

Manchester United went on to win 2-0. The second goal was scored against a short-handed Wigan squad with only nine men.