Grimsby manager David Artell branded referee Geoff Eltringham “a disgrace to the profession” after seeing his side lose 2-1 at 10-man Chesterfield.
Opposite number Paul Cook also expressed disappointment with the officiating after the Spireites recorded their first home win since returning to the Football League.
James Berry and Dilan Markanday scored for the hosts, with Charles Vernam on target for Grimsby before Darren Oldaker was sent off.
Artell said: “I thought the referee was a disgrace to the profession. But I don’t want to say too much about that.
“The good thing is the underlying performance was there. We’ve come to the promotion favourites and we’ve dominated the game for large parts.
“We haven’t quite got the result and I said to the players, don’t be happy, we haven’t got the result, but understand that, with that underlying performance, you’re going to win more games by playing that well.
“Eleven v 11 we felt as though we were in the game and certainly in control. Obviously we’ve conceded from a set-piece, which is really disappointing. Then we’ve conceded a real poor goal on half-time.
“We felt we were in the game at half-time. Then Charles scores a good goal and then it’s a case of taking the chances.
“It was a really good game. I thought it was two really good teams and it was played with the right spirit.”
Cook, shown a yellow card in the ninth minute for dissent, was keen to focus on the football instead of discussing the referee’s performance.
He said: “I thought it was a really, really good game of football. I thought the intent in the game from both teams, we knew it would be a good game.
“Dave [Artell) coached his team and along with the staff to be a good team. He comes to have an entertaining game and caused us no end of problems.
“I think the two teams can leave the stadium a bit disappointed with everything else that went on in the game, rather than two teams having a good football match.
“Obviously you’re going to speak about some of the other stuff, which I’m not going to speak about because I’ll end up getting into trouble.
“We’re five games in now and we continue to speak about the same stuff. It’s got to stop somewhere along the line.
“We had so many lads who’d done really well and defended well and Grimsby were testing us all afternoon. It was always going to be a game like that.
“Dilan scores, James scores, it’s what he does, he scores goals, he’s got that effect on games.
“I listened to the crowd today, we’re knocking 10,000 people now at home, with great credit to the Grimsby crowd who’ve sold out.
“It’s disappointing we end up with so much other stuff going on in a game that probably, in my opinion, didn’t warrant that.”
