Marc Skinner said decisions from the referee cost his Man Utd side in their heavyweight WSL clash with holders Chelsea.
The Londoners claimed a 1-0 win thanks to Sam Kerr's superbly-taken 23rd-minute strike at Kingsmeadow. In a game of few chances, United often dominated possession but failed to find the equaliser, dropping to second in the WSL table.
But Skinner believes his side were denied two "stonewall" penalties by referee Cheryl Foster. Nikita Parris looked to have been fouled by Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan in the first-half, while Ona Batlle also looked to have been nudged over in the box by Jess Carter.
The Red Devils boss confronted the officials on the Kingsmeadow pitch at half-time as tempers threatened to boil over between the two title contenders.
United were top coming into the game, but now fall two points behind Chelsea who also have a game in-hand.
"I think today it helps if you get two decisions that should go for you," Skinner said. "They're two big decisions and that is the reality of the big games.
"We've come here and dominated the ball. We've forced them only into counter-attacks really. We got into the box twice and they are two penalties for me.
"Two penalties in a game like this are massive and when I look back over the last few games, Chelsea had a goal that was offside the other night. This will make and break where you finish in the table. We talk about it balancing out, well I'm hopeful that we see it.
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"The reality is, in that game today, we should have had two penalties."
Skinner added that he felt today's game was a prime example of why officials in the WSL need assistance in the form of technology.
"I haven't mentioned much about the officials this season," said Skinner. "But they are stonewall in my opinion, when you watch them back.
"The same aerial challenge happened in midfield and it was given as a foul. I just don't get the difference.
"The reality is we have to invest in the officials and the surrounding technology. They (his United team) will be fuming. We've put a lot of energy into this week."
Although Skinner felt United controlled the game, he did concede his team should have defended better on the Chelsea goal. One long pass from Lauren James in the Chelsea half sent Kerr racing away, with the Aussie forward lifting the ball cutely over United keeper Mary Earps.
"It was a switch-off moment from us," explained Skinner. "Sam is really good at invading the backline and we spoke about it all week. It's something we won't be happy with when we look at it.
"But the reality is if you don't play a high-line in that moment, they can just play in front of us and go through you anyway. One long ball should be able to be dealt with and we have to learn from that."
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