Referee gets into a spot of bother
ROGER EAST may need a rather large brandy by his side when he sits down to fill out his refereeing report from this match at the Vitality Stadium. After all, you know it is bad when both sets of supporters leave singing: ‘You’re not fit to referee.’
This was a tale of three penalties given, a blatant fourth that was not and a total of 10 yellow cards shown. Indeed some of East’s decisions left Bournemouth and Wolves equally baffled.
It was a bizarre evening of football, one which ended with the Vitality’s sprinklers interrupting play in stoppage time, and the man in black will not have many busier days than this.
Afterwards, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe and Wolves coach Nuno Espirito Santo did not want to be drawn too much on the controversial calls. Perhaps they did not know where to start.
‘Don’t speak about VAR,’ said Espirito Santo, somewhat sympathetic to East. ‘Let’s speak about the game. There were many decisions, but the task is so tough for the referee.’
It started with a penalty awarded to Bournemouth in the 14th minute. Joshua King went down after a challenge by Joao Moutinho but Wolves were adamant that he had dived. VAR might have agreed with them but King dispatched the spotkick, finding the bottom-right corner to score his fourth goal in five games.
In the 83rd minute, Wolves were handed a lifeline by the man their fans had been branding their enemy all evening. East pointed to the penalty spot when Adam Smith was judged to have brought down Matt Doherty from behind. Raul Jimenez, cool as you like, put it away for 1-1.
BourNemoutH (4-4-1-1): Boruc 6.5; Clyne 6.5, Mepham 6, Ake 6, Smith 6; Ibe 6, Gosling 7, Lerma 6, Fraser 6; King 6.5; Solanke 6 (Mousset 90). Booked: Smith, Lerma, Gosling, Boruc. subs (not used): Begovic, Surman, Daniels, Rico, Simpson, Surridge. woLves (3-5-2): Patricio 6.5; Bennett 6, Coady 6, Boly 6; Doherty 7.5, Dendoncker 6 (Traore 77), Neves 6, Moutinho 6.5, Otto 6; Jimenez 6.5 (Saiss 88), Jota 6 (Cavaleiro 66, 6). Booked: Jota, Dendoncker, Bennett, Jimenez, Neves, Patricio. subs (not used): Ruddy, Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre. referee: R East 2.5.