No referee respect as Pools are infuriated
Hartlepool United 1 Swansea City 3
No referee respect as
Pools are infuriated
AFTER a week in which the message
to respect the referee has
been repeated time and time
again, Lee Probert proved that officials
have some way to go before
the mantra can be fully implemented.
With Hartlepool United and
Swansea City level and equally
matched following 45 minutes of
enthralling football, the whistle
blower turned the game on its
head, with a decision as baffling
as it was infuriating for Pools.
You didn't have to be called
Javier Mascherano or possess a
South American temperament to
get angry with Probert, and it's
credit to the Pools players that
they all emerged from the incident
- and game - caution free.
Credit, however, is not something
which was aimed in the referee's
direction on this occasion.
Ben Clark slid in to win the ball
from Jason Scotland inside the
penalty area. Job done, or so
Pools thought.
Because the referee surprised
all - Swansea's half-hearted appealing
players included - when
he blew for an infringement and
awarded a penalty.
Danny Wilson: "There's no argument
-it's a really bad decision
and for whatever reason he's not
seen what has happened. Maybe
that's why he is refereeing at the
level he is. It was truly awful and
turned the game.''
Robert Martinez, as is a manager's
prerogative to take everything
handed on a plate: "I had a
clear view from my side and it
was a definite penalty. The player
did get the ball after he got
Jason."
Ben Clark: "I really couldn't believe
it was given. I thought it was
a really good tackle and I'm a bit
in shock over it.''
Probert gave the half-time
Bovril a bitter taste and, instead
of both teams being applauded
off for their efforts, Pools giving
the long-term leaders a real test,
all anger and fury was vented in
the direction of the man in black.
And, instead of the second half
being as open and dynamic as the
first, Swansea didn't have to
press to try and win the game.
They already had an advantage
and one they were more than
happy to hold onto.
"You talk about self-control
and this respect thing which is
coming through. How can you respect
a truly awful decision like
that?'' asked Wilson.
"It's human nature that you
then get agitated. You make
fouls, they start making fouls in
return and things get scrappy.
"Before that decision it was set
up for a terrific game. We were in
it, wore them down and didn't
give them opportunities at goal.
"The decision made the game
niggly. He's (Probert) trying to
appease what he has done in the
first-half by giving free-kicks for
this and that, but that's human
nature as well after dropping a
rick - I hope he knows he's
dropped a rick.
"If he doesn't know, then he's
got a problem.''
He added: "We have respected
the referee and it could have been
a lot worse. We didn't have any
players booked for dissent or
complaining about the decision,
so we have done our bit.
"The fans have showed what
they thought of the decision,
they were disgusted and rightly
so. But you cannot change it, all
we ask for is restraint from the
players.
"It was a really difficult situation
to accept and the players
were commendable in how they
handled it. Of course no-one was
happy with it.''
Probert has refereed seven Premier
League games this season.
He wasn't offering any explanation
for his decision afterwards,
holed up inside his dressing room
and no doubt will have another
game next weekend.
The decision came at the end of
a very good 45 minutes of football,
constantly played at pace.
Swansea were as poor at the back
as they were good going forward,
but Pools were only able to score
once.
Only 26 seconds had gone
when Gary Liddle put Pools, who
started off playing 4-5-1, in front.
James Brown opened up the defence,
his shot was saved and Liddle
was on hand for the perfect
start.
Pools should have been two up
after Brown caused more problems.
However, instead of picking
out either Matty Robson or
Joel Porter, he tried a low shot
which went across goal and wide.
Swansea levelled when, from a
questionable free-kick, Andy
Monkhouse slipped as he went to
close down Darren Pratley, who
drilled in from 16 yards.
Pools started the second period
well, but couldn't break through.
Perhaps they should have had a
penalty when Ben Clark was bundled
over by Dennis Lawrence.
With Pools losing Brown to a
second-half injury they lost some
of their momentum and the visitors
clinched it with a breakaway.
Pratley started the move from
a Pools corner, fed Duffy, took the
return pass and, with Arran Lee-
Barrett coming to the edge of the
area, slot low into the net.
"It was an excellent game, two
sides positive in their approach,''
reflected Wilson. "We knew we
could cause problems which we
did and we knew they would
cause us problems, which they
did.
"But we haven't really conceded
a bad goal to get in a position
to lose the game.
"We used our pace to affect the
game, Matty Robson has great
pace and that's why we put him
on that side, James Brown on the
other side could get at the fullbacks
and that's an area we wanted
to get in on them.''
Pools stay in the same League
One position, Swansea now within
touching distance of promotion.
"We haven't got points from
the games against the top
teams,'' added Wilson. "When
you are so dominant like we have
been on many occasions against
teams in the top six, we haven't
done it.
"This was different, we are not
self-critical about how we have
lost this game. The game has
been taken away from us by a decision.''
4:51pm Saturday 29th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: michael, woodham on 10:47am Sun 30 Mar 08
What was the referee thinking when he gave that penalty, firstly the ball went out of play and lines man had hes head where he shouldnt of and the ref wants to go back to FA school that was not a penalty. How come over the past few home matches we have had incompetent officials at the VIC there has been back passes bad challenges and lotts of wrong and other offenses. No wounder referee's are getting no respect from players or fans........
What was the referee thinking when he gave that penalty, firstly the ball went out of play and lines man had hes head where he shouldnt of and the ref wants to go back to FA school that was not a penalty. How come over the past few home matches we have had incompetent officials at the VIC there has been back passes bad challenges and lotts of wrong and other offenses. No wounder referee's are getting no respect from players or fans........
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