Referee made key errors at crucial free-kick
KEITH Hill was bitterly disappointed with referee Seb Stockbridge and his team of officials, particularly in the closing stage of the 1-0 defeat against Portsmouth.
Stockbridge turned his back on Portsmouth’s players as he ran to book Ryan Delaney in the free-kick which led to the winning goal. In doing so he allowed the Pompey players preparing the set-piece to shift the ball infield a few yards.
And to compound that mistake, he later missed a foul on Andy Cannon in the Portsmouth penalty area which should have seen Dale awarded a spot kick.
“The referee has made a bad decision,” he said.
“Prior to booking Ryan Delaney he should be marking out where the free-kick was actually given and where the ball should be. I think he got it upside down. He goes chasing after Ryan Delaney without actually marking it out with the foam, so straight away he has made a terrible decision. But if I’m the opponent I am trying to do the same, I realise the referee has made a mistake, I realise he’s turned his back on where the ball should be placed, the fourth official doesn’t help him at all and they get it wrong. It was a cruel deflection. I won’t complain about the award of the free kick but the referee seemed to have some sort of panic attack with respect to having to book Ryan Delaney.
“Him and officials have missed the penalty and it’s such a shame because I don’t think we deserved to lose.”