GRAHAM POLL
Red cards galore, penalty chaos and a diving storm on manic afternoon for refs
MANCHESTER UNITED were getting desperate as they faced a first defeat of the season, and none more so than an out-ofform Wayne Rooney when he found himself clean through in the last moments of the game. However, Martin Atkinson is just too experienced to give a penalty for the excellent challenge that Ashley Williams made on Rooney, who then clipped Williams’s foot and went to ground (right). It was not a dive as there was contact but Rooney knew he was appealing in vain.
Saturday was full of controversy with five red cards in eight games, penalty storms and a diving incident. Here, Graham Poll gives his verdict on all the major talking points.
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM Referee — Kevin Friend
This performance centred on two red cards; one of which looked very harsh and the other was just wrong.
the first time Philippe Coutinho appeared to transgress, it wasn’t clear what he had done. Not retreating 10 yards at an innocuous free-kick seemed harsh but it could have been a repeat offence.
the second yellow came seven minutes into the second half when he went to ground to make a challenge and brought down dimitri Payet.
it looked harsh as Payet had just performed a 360-degree turn on the ball and a collision seemed unavoidable but Coutinho going to ground convinced Friend it was a cautionable offence.
Worse was to come as Mark Noble was shown a straight red for a challenge on danny ings. it was a lunging tackle but Noble won the ball and was in control of his challenge which offered no threat to ings’ safety. surely this will be overturned on appeal once slow-motion replays are used.
VERDICT: Friend could have avoided both red cards with a more sensible approach. Noble’s must be overturned.
CHELSEA v CRYSTAL PALACE Referee — Craig Pawson
One key incident which Jose Mourinho couldn’t wait to highlight, as if it explained his team’s latest defeat.
Chelsea had a corner and the customary wrestling went on in the box before the ball was crossed. Chelsea’s kurt Zouma and Palace’s Connor Wickham were pushing each other and, as the ball came in, Wickham clearly held Zouma’s shirt. technically, it was either a penalty or a free-kick to Palace for the initial offence by Zouma.
these incidents occur several times in every Premier League game and referees have decided to ignore them, which is wrong. However, i understand the referees’ mindset as they are seldom supported when they do make a big decision to award penalties.
VERDICT: Pawson refereed well but it was a penalty when Zouma was held.
STOKE v WEST BROM Referee — Michael Oliver
Two red cards could — and perhaps should — have been three in the first half. ibrahim afellay reacted stupidly to Craig Gardner’s challenge and follow-up, and was correctly sent off for striking the West Brom midfielder in the face. Gardner could also have been dismissed as he first brought afellay down from behind and then appeared to flick the stoke player on the cheek, prompting afellay’s reaction. equal punishment would have felt more just and both players should have been dismissed.
there could be no dispute about stoke’s second red when Charlie adam deliberately stood on Craig dawson after the two clashed in front of assistant referee stuart Burt, who advised Oliver to dismiss the stoke midfielder.
i hope Mark Hughes reflects on his post-match comment that the referee should have applied common sense, taken a deep breath and thought about the 28,000 who had paid to watch the game. that advice should be given to adam and afellay whose stupid reactions ruined the game rather than the excellent officiating.
VERDICT: Oliver performed well and correctly dismissed two stoke players — and perhaps should have sent off Gardner, as well.
BOURNEMOUTH V LEICESTER Referee — Neil Swarbrick
a tough game with plenty of incidents for swarbrick, who made a few mistakes which didn’t need slow-motion replays to clarify.
the first came when Bournemouth were awarded a free-kick just outside the area after Lee tomlin was fouled inside and should have had a penalty. the second came when, in clear view of swarbrick, robert Huth smashed the ball into Callum Wilson, who was lying on the ground just a yard away. Huth should have been dismissed.
the penalty that was given was absolutely clear when Jamie Vardy was brought down. Vardy should have had a second penalty when brought down by Mark Pugh and Bournemouth could have had another when Wilson went down but it would have been soft.
VERDICT: swarbrick struggled, missing two penalties and a red card.
ASTON VILLA V SUNDERLAND Referee — Bobby Madley
a game of two penalties for Madley who did very well. the first he gave when Lee Cattermole clearly climbed all over Villa’s scott sinclair — a straightforward penalty. the second was not so clear when Villa’s Carles Gil went to ground inside the area. tim sherwood was sure it was a penalty but the way Gil threw his legs out behind himself convinced Madley and me that it was a dive worthy of a yellow card. replays confirmed that Madley got the decision right.
VERDICT: excellent performance from Madley who got both big penalty calls correct.
NEWCASTLE UNITED v ARSENAL Referee — Andre Marriner
Newcastle’s new signing aleksandar Mitrovic needs to change the way he tackles or he will suffer at the hands of referees in england.
His tackle on arsenal’s Francis Coquelin was over the top and made with studs showing which landed on the midfielder’s ankle. Marriner was correct to dismiss the serbian and Newcastle boss steve McClaren needs to work with the player rather than blame the media for targeting him. Newcastle appeared to want to take a physical approach and got away with a yellow card when Moussa sissoko stood on Nacho Monreal.
Marriner did make one mistake in failing to see that Hector Bellerin had been fouled by Florian thauvin when racing in on goal — a clear penalty but the referee appeared to have an obscured view.
VERDICT: red card was right as the referee was clamping down on Newcastle fouling, but missed clear penalty for arsenal.
TOTTENHAM v EVERTON Referee — Mike Jones
The only real question was whether John stones had tripped tottenham midfielder dele alli for a late penalty, but replays showed Jones was right to ignore the appeals.
tom Cleverley was wiped out by an eric dier challenge and while the tottenham defensive midfielder played the ball, his heavy challenge — made at pace — looked a poor one worthy of Jones’ attention.
VERDICT: Jones had little to do but got it right. incredibly, Manchester City versus Watford passed without major incident!