Michael Duff felt the second half penalty awarded to Bolton Wanderers proved to be the key point in the game that saw Cheltenham Town's final home match of the season end in defeat.
Lewis Freestone was punished for what referee Neil Hair deemed to be a foul on Oladapo Afolayan, and it allowed the one-time Premier League side the chance to double their lead.
Aaron Ramsey's goal late on did halve the deficit, but Bolton's two goals meant they'd done enough to secure three points.
Despite the result, scores elsewhere mean the club have recorded a highest ever league finish this season.
"I thought we were competitive in the first half. We had good chances, you need to score those chances, and ultimately the penalty has been the key decision in the game," Duff said.
"It's not a penalty. Lewis (Freestone) has been fouled before. The reason he's fallen over is because he's pulled him and then he's fallen into their lad so it's a foul on their lad but the first foul is on Lewis. It ends up being a key decision.
"They were better than us second half no doubt. But a corner and a very dubious penalty for all their good play.
"We had a big couple of chance in the first half. Against these big teams you've got to try and take them."
Watch the press conference in full above on iFollow and on the EFL iFollow app.
There is one game left to go this season away at Cambridge United on Saturday 30 April. Kick-off at the Abbey Stadium is at 12.30pm.
To buy tickets and away travel for the game head online. Alternatively you can purchase from the ticket office during opening hours this week.
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