SLAVEN SEES RED Angry Bilic has an off day
DERBY WEST BROM 4 .........Shots on Target......... 4 5 ........ Shots off Target......... 6 6 ................Corners ................ 6 1 2 ..................Fouls ..................18 2 ................Offsides ................ 2 83.9.. Passing Success% .86.2 411 .........Total Passes ....... 456 47 .........Possession% .........53 46.6 ...Territorial Adv% ....53.4 SLAVEN BILIC’S preseason pledge to stay calm came to an explosive end as the West
Brom boss was sent off for twice blowing up.
In a match full of controversy and dodgy penalty decisions, Bilic struggled to contain his temper.
The Baggies boss was yellowcarded for reacting furiously when referee Gavin Ward, under instruction from his assistant Mark Pottage, decided Filip Krovinovic had handled just before half-time.
Martyn Waghorn, who had already scored from the spot in the first few minutes, failed to convert so justice was seemingly done.
Replays showed the ball struck Krovinovic high on a shoulder.
And in the second half, when Ward gave a goal-kick rather than a corner after Lee Buchanan blocked a Jake Livermore effort, Bilic popped again.
He was in the stands when Kenneth Zohore, for the second successive game, earned his side a late point from the spot after Matheus Pereira went down under a Max Lowe challenge.
The Croatian said: “I reacted a few times, the penalty and the corner wasn’t given. Did I o over react? From their point o of view I did but from my p point of view I didn’t.
“I am wrong. I will have to c control myself. I will always v voice my opinion. It will n never be personal but I can’t u understand why I can’t voice m my opinion. I have to. West Brom is expecting me.
“It is the way I am. I have to calm myself down a bit. I wasn’t close to be sent off in those first four games but every fifth game is too much.”
Bilic believes VAR could have cleared up some of the decisions.
He added: “What VAR brings is justice and it’s truth and it’s fair. For the referee it is impossible to see everything.”
At least there was no controversy about the first penalty decision. Kieran Gibbs fouled Waghorn, who picked himself up and drove in past Sam Johnstone.
It has been a strange old start to the season for Waghorn. He has already had four penalty kicks, two successful and two failures. For most of the match it looked as if his early contribution would deliver Derby their first home win of the season.
Coach Phillip Cocu pointed the finger at Lowe for giving away the penalty and Waghorn for missing. He said: “One point again. If Waggy scores a second penalty then victory is ours. Now he misses again and for the team it’s a big blow.
“In football one moment in the game can change the result. I told the lads at half- time be careful in the 18-yard box, no crazy tackles.”