Western United coach John Aloisi unhappy with referee after his team’s capitulation in Gosford

Western United coach John Aloisi wasn’t happy with the refereeing following another disappointing result for the A-League champions.

Neil Kilkenny (left) vents his frustration during Western United’s loss in Gosford. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Western United coach John Aloisi has slammed refereeing “inconsistency” after his side’s A-League title defence suffered another blow with a 4-2 loss to the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.

Leading 2-0 at half-time on Saturday evening after goals from Nicolas Milanovic and Connor Pain, United then fell to pieces, with the Mariners scoring four second-half goals to win for the first time this season.

The game changed three minutes into the second half when United were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of veteran defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley for a late and cynical foul on teenage sensation Garang Kuol, who had just entered the contest after starting the match on the bench.

Topor-Stanley was initially shown a yellow card but after VAR intervention, referee Stephen Lucas reviewed the video footage, which appeared to show the United centre-back having caught Kuol’s calf with the studs of his boots.

Lucas then scrapped his yellow card decision and instead issued Topor-Stanley with a direct red card.

After that it was one-way traffic, with a Mariners side inspired by Kuol and fellow World Cup hopeful Jason Cummings taking total control.

Kuol set up Cummings to score the Mariners first goal in the 67th minute, and it was then a procession, with Beni N’Kololo, Jacob Farrell and Paul Ayongo also finding the back of the net to ensure last-placed United’s search for their first win of the season continued.

The Mariners celebrate during their win over Western United. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

And it could have been worse for United, with the Mariners denied a goal in the 55th minute after stunning strike from Cummings was disallowed because play hadn’t been stopped when a second ball had been on the pitch in the build-up.

Aloisi said United should have showed more resilience when playing with 10 men but wasn’t happy with the officiating.

“The biggest negative for me is again the inconsistency from the referee,” said United’s coach, who was unhappy that an earlier tackle from Mariners import Marco Tulio had gone unpunished.

“I just don’t understand how they can get something so different when it’s a similar challenge (to Topor-Stanley’s). It’s really, really frustrating.

“I don’t know if we’re going to appeal Nikolai’s red card because If they deem that a dangerous tackle, then I have to accept that.

“If it is a red card, it is a red card, but then be consistent.”