WPM R11 vs Sydney FC | Sat 7th Jan | 7:00pm | SS7

I feel like that was the perfect game for Sail, gritty and ugly. You can tell he loves to get riled up and talk shark. Awesome game from him!

I must say though I don't like the tactic of sitting back after a halftime lead, it always seems to cause trouble. Best defense is a good offense and all that.

Phenomenal win though, absolutely stoked. Get fudgeed Sydney.

Napier Phoenix

I think you are right, Oli was back to his best tonight.

YoungHe.\rt

🔥TEAM NEWS🔥

▪️ Rufer is back & starts alongside Lewis in the middle
▪️ Rufer wears the armband today
▪️ Barbarouses comes into the Starting XI
▪️ Sasse & Ugarkovic are on the bench

Kickoff is at 7pm (NZT) - Watch the game live on @skysportnz #COYN! 💪

💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/GV547uGTjh

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) January 7, 2023

Huge for Rufer to be back in the starting XI and he gets the captains armband too. 🙌

Our prayers have been answered, hopefully allows Sail to just focus on keeping the ball out of the net.

COYN!

Immense. The only way to describe that performance, from everyone, even in the face of extreme pressure & adversity. Look at what it meant to him at the end too.

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These were the player ratings from the FotMob app as well.

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Pretty much agree with these ratings, although everyone of the back four deserves to be bumped up to at least a 7.5 for the heroics and keeping a clean sheet in tact. Everyone really pulled together for that one. Kosta probably bumped down to a 6.5 because I think he was almost invisible for a lot of his 63'.

Officiating aside, so, so very proud of the boys for that backs to the wall performance though. Everyone can hold their head high.

COYN! 

Now I need a lie down, I have a headache from screaming at the tv, and then celebrating very loudly on the front deck after that one.

mjp2

martinb

YoungHe.\rt

The most ridiculous ending to an @IsuzuUTE A-League match in history 💥😱

Somehow... SOMEWAY... the NINE men of @WgtnPhoenixFC take all three points!

Unbelievable!!!

Nix survive chaotic ending: https://t.co/tcvZoljcPM
#CCMvADL #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/6EOlLZqSvh

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 7, 2023

Someone pin it to the top of this thread.

 
Guess what the replies under that tweet say…

Lols
Here's one of them
"Dogshark officiating from Evans, I know Sydney bought the finals I didn't realise they got the refs as part of the deal." 

God knows what Evans was doing. But you can't see today as an Aussie anti Nix bias. It has to be seen as a pro SFC bias.

Supporters of all the other ALM clubs, think they get a raw deal from the refs against the Bling as well. They would have been all hoping the Nix won.

YoungHe.\rt

Get wrecked Sydney, absolutely get fudgeen wrecked!

Shaun Evans you are a disgrace to this game. Useless prick.

Aye, bent as a Boxing Day turd

Was great to be a Phoenix fan last night in a disgrace end to the game of football. Another massive loss of credibility to the A League though and that’s the real worry. Answers please !!

No issues with the reds. Kraeve did foul the player catching him on the shin from behind. A little soft considering some others not punished, but not a terrible call in isolation.

No issue with Pennington red either. He put his hands on the players neck as well as fully engaging in the head to head stuff. You simply can't do that.

Both pens were shocking calls and how VAR didn't spot the mistake on the first or found the arm on the second is beyond me. I blame VAR more than the ref as it is designed to help the ref not drag him down further into the mire.

MetalLegNZ

No issues with the reds. Kraeve did foul the player catching him on the shin from behind. A little soft considering some others not punished, but not a terrible call in isolation.

No issue with Pennington red either. He put his hands on the players neck as well as fully engaging in the head to head stuff. You simply can't do that.

Both pens were shocking calls and how VAR didn't spot the mistake on the first or found the arm on the second is beyond me. I blame VAR more than the ref as it is designed to help the ref not drag him down further into the mire.

For me the thing is the yellows aren't in isolation though right?

The ref sets the precedent in the game and how Kraev can get 2 yellows and Sydney have had 1 yellow in 70 minutes is absolutely absurd.  If Sydney were on 7 yellows and we got pinged there it would have felt less unfair.

As for hands around the throat, yea that's not smart but with how fired up and aggressive Burgess was being Pennington should have a right to protect himself.  I really thought in real time Burgess was gonna do something to him so don't blame anyone for trying to protect themselves in the face of such aggression.  He didn't just walk up to a dude and choke him, he was trying to get an agro prick out of his face.

Burgess also gives his nipple a quick squeeze if you watch the replay slowly. If some dude leaned his head into me and squeezed my nipple the min he'd be getting in return is a mild neck grab. 

Enquires Welcome!  Read First.
https://76dde590-08cc-4c42-9cac-c9929efe8f12.filesusr.com/ugd/3ef1ae_0de331539656464eb37127c347e1c53a.docx?dn=PFRA%20-%20Code%20of%20Conduct.docx

Woke up with the biggest smile on my face this morning. What an incredible match that was, but sadly will be remembered for all the wrong reasons - terrible officiating and just blatant Sydney bias coming to the fore, I don't think you can call it any other way. That ending surely has to rank right up there as one of the most farcical endings to a game in the history of the A-League, right?

Twitter and social media still going off about it, and there's some bloody gems out there, but this take from Chiefy takes the absolute piss-take cake 😆😆

Screenshot_2023-01-08-09-49-49-44_0b2fce7a16bf2b728d6ffa28c8d60efb.jpg 214.38 KB

Love ya work Chiefy, don't ever change. 👏😆

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Still fizzing haha

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

siac

Burgess also gives his nipple a quick squeeze if you watch the replay slowly. If some dude leaned his head into me and squeezed my nipple the min he'd be getting in return is a mild neck grab. 

Sounds sexy, I'm in

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

The worrying thing for NZ football fans is that apparently a bunch of Kiwi refs agree with the decision on the first penalty dont have an issue with them thinking the 2nd one was. The issue is there wouldnt have been a 2nd one if the first one wasnt given  and just how they can all agree the 1st should have been given from the TV replays we all saw just beggars belief.

I mean didn’t a NZ ref, Matthew Conger embarrass himself on the world stage in the France Tunisia game? I can’t imagine NZ would have better referees then Australia.. 

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

MetalLegNZ

No issues with the reds. Kraeve did foul the player catching him on the shin from behind. A little soft considering some others not punished, but not a terrible call in isolation.

No issue with Pennington red either. He put his hands on the players neck as well as fully engaging in the head to head stuff. You simply can't do that.

Both pens were shocking calls and how VAR didn't spot the mistake on the first or found the arm on the second is beyond me. I blame VAR more than the ref as it is designed to help the ref not drag him down further into the mire.

Just show how fans can watch the same game and see different things. I do have issues with both reds Kraeves 2ndyellow was defiantly a foul but cant agree it was deserving of a card. The replay i saw he got the top of the other players boot nowhere near his shin. As for Pennington if he got a Red then they both should have got them he wasnt the instigator. Yes he shouldnt have put hands on his neck but you cant see what the other guys right hand is doing.

https://www.ftbl.com.au/analysis/explain-yourself-referee-evans-for-your-appalling-a-league-decisions-576391 If anyone remembers this game from earlier last year you will know it’s the exactly the same ref.. an d he was selected for the FIFA World Cup as a VAR ref.. not sure if he’s corrupt or incompetent. Feel sorry for his children, having such a shark father 

ballane

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

The worrying thing for NZ football fans is that apparently a bunch of Kiwi refs agree with the decision on the first penalty dont have an issue with them thinking the 2nd one was. The issue is there wouldnt have been a 2nd one if the first one wasnt given  and just how they can all agree the 1st should have been given from the TV replays we all saw just beggars belief.

Goes a long way towards explaining some of the refereeing in the National League!!

I got to congratulate Uffy in person. Am transiting through Sydney on the way home from holiday. Had watched the game overseas and not really twigged to my whereabouts until I realised the team was boarding the same flight as me. I get nervous around celebrities. 

ballane

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

The worrying thing for NZ football fans is that apparently a bunch of Kiwi refs agree with the decision on the first penalty dont have an issue with them thinking the 2nd one was. The issue is there wouldnt have been a 2nd one if the first one wasnt given  and just how they can all agree the 1st should have been given from the TV replays we all saw just beggars belief.

so reading his thread it looks like they saw the ball touch the arm before it came down.

So based on that it appears the footage we were shown wasn't of the handball.

What sharks me is he is saying the issue is with the fans.  Um if the fans are shown the wrong footage and so come to the wrong conclusion it's hardly their fault right?

This is where ref/VAR audio is needed. Would clear up so much fan mis-understanding that is not doing any good for the game.

YoungHeartHM

Uffie was remarkably calm in that post match interview. I don't think he would've even bothered if one of those penalties went it. Voice was a bit hoarse in that one too. 🤣

That's my manager and the Wellington Phoenix are my football team! 

yeah, easy to be calm when you've won though right, Corica seemed outright depressed, almost like he'd expected the win pregame and all the plans had failed. Would have been a different response if we'd lost that one I think. Uffie diplomatic as always, cos you know they have to be or get fined or worse suspended. Will be keen to see what the FFA or whoever appoints the refs these days has to say.

LG

martinb

YoungHe.\rt

The most ridiculous ending to an @IsuzuUTE A-League match in history 💥😱

Somehow... SOMEWAY... the NINE men of @WgtnPhoenixFC take all three points!

Unbelievable!!!

Nix survive chaotic ending: https://t.co/tcvZoljcPM
#CCMvADL #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/6EOlLZqSvh

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 7, 2023

Someone pin it to the top of this thread.

 
Guess what the replies under that tweet say…

I read them all, only 2 or 3 supported Sydney  (Even Sydney fans were pissed off). Evans has humiliated himself and the game. The A League now have serious credibility issues.  Especially after selling the GF to Sydney for 30 pieces of Silver. Evans has to be sacked but he won't be. 

NSWG to FFA - "we'll buy the finals for three years, one of our teams is always in them right? RIGHT?"
FFA "how do we make sure a Sydney team are in the finals?"

Ranix

This is where ref/VAR audio is needed. Would clear up so much fan mis-understanding that is not doing any good for the game.

It's insane that they aren't!

I figured we were being shown the footage that the decision was being made from because I can't see any valid reason you wouldn't.

YoungHeartHM

Woke up with the biggest smile on my face this morning. What an incredible match that was, but sadly will be remembered for all the wrong reasons - terrible officiating and just blatant Sydney bias coming to the fore, I don't think you can call it any other way. That ending surely has to rank right up there as one of the most farcical endings to a game in the history of the A-League, right?

Twitter and social media still going off about it, and there's some bloody gems out there, but this take from Chiefy takes the absolute piss-take cake 😆😆

Screenshot_2023-01-08-09-49-49-44_0b2fce7a16bf2b728d6ffa28c8d60efb.jpg 214.38 KB

Love ya work Chiefy, don't ever change. 👏😆

The problem I have with this comment is that they only watched the last 10, in isolation the calls were correct, but in the context of the game they were nothing compared to what Sydney had gotten away with.
Kraev fouled for sure, was it a yellow, given Grant received not one for any of the 5 shoves in the back while players were airborne I think not. Should Pennington be red carded for raising hands? Sure, but then Burgess should be red carded for instigating the whole thing. Burgess went after Pennington, who had turned and left the scene after the whiste was blown.
That is where the clear bias lies, Sydney players got away with everything, Thye saw 2 yellows allgame and they were issued late. Grant could have had 4 yellows for anyone of his shoves - but gets away scott free.

thanks fudge we won, and now sit 6th on the table, 1 point off 4th, Sydney are now 8th 3 points from bottom.

next home game vs Roar is a 6 pointer for me, the play Perth in Perth on Wednesday then travel to us for Saturday. They are 4th. If they lose to Perth we move to 4th, Adelaide have Victory, so this weeks games could all go in our favour.

The main thing with the cards is to see the players reactions. With both it’s utter disbelief and the same with the players around them. 

Contrast to the Sasse red. There are no players demanding the ref take action. Based on the game, for the first, there’s no expectation he’s even going to call a foul. 

Edit: also good to remember headbuts are a yellow, so keep your hand out! 

Bananas

ballane

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

The worrying thing for NZ football fans is that apparently a bunch of Kiwi refs agree with the decision on the first penalty dont have an issue with them thinking the 2nd one was. The issue is there wouldnt have been a 2nd one if the first one wasnt given  and just how they can all agree the 1st should have been given from the TV replays we all saw just beggars belief.

so reading his thread it looks like they saw the ball touch the arm before it came down.

So based on that it appears the footage we were shown wasn't of the handball.

What sharks me is he is saying the issue is with the fans.  Um if the fans are shown the wrong footage and so come to the wrong conclusion it's hardly their fault right?

does it shock you that there is a referees club that will always back their frellow whistke blowers?

theprof

Bananas

ballane

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

The worrying thing for NZ football fans is that apparently a bunch of Kiwi refs agree with the decision on the first penalty dont have an issue with them thinking the 2nd one was. The issue is there wouldnt have been a 2nd one if the first one wasnt given  and just how they can all agree the 1st should have been given from the TV replays we all saw just beggars belief.

so reading his thread it looks like they saw the ball touch the arm before it came down.

So based on that it appears the footage we were shown wasn't of the handball.

What sharks me is he is saying the issue is with the fans.  Um if the fans are shown the wrong footage and so come to the wrong conclusion it's hardly their fault right?

does it shock you that there is a referees club that will always back their frellow whistke blowers?

I mean, no, but I kinda wanna assume good faith where possible.

martinb

The main thing with the cards is to see the players reactions. With both it’s utter disbelief and the same with the players around them. 

Contrast to the Sasse red. There are no players demanding the ref take action. Based on the game, for the first, there’s no expectation he’s even going to call a foul. 

Edit: also good to remember headbuts are a yellow, so keep your hand out! 

Wait really?  Could have sworn I remember seeing someone get a red for headbutting and that would be way more violent than what Pennington did.

lthomas20

ballane

YoungHeartHM

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

nufc_nz

What is Kerr saying?? They were both definitely pens?

Exactly what he's saying.
Loved the bit where he said they only really tuned in to the last 10 or so minutes...🙄

So clearly had no context or understanding of what had happened in the lead up to that point, and then spouting off some absolute 🐂 💩.

Makes you cringe for the National League if all 7 of them were giving both of those penalties... But that's another topic entirely.

The worrying thing for NZ football fans is that apparently a bunch of Kiwi refs agree with the decision on the first penalty dont have an issue with them thinking the 2nd one was. The issue is there wouldnt have been a 2nd one if the first one wasnt given  and just how they can all agree the 1st should have been given from the TV replays we all saw just beggars belief.

Goes a long way towards explaining some of the refereeing in the National League!!

Yeah some of the officiating in the GF left me pretty sour, this explains why.

Somehow headbutt to the head is a yellow, headbutt to the chest is a red (think Zidane).....

Kept away from the forum until now as I needed to calm myself down.

Appalling refereeing.  One can see why allegations of bias and/or corruption get made ...

My thoughts on players and refereeing decisions:
1. Kraev was at fault for conceding his first yellow - it was a stupid, unnecessary yellow that came back to bite him in the butt.  If he doesn't concede that first stupid yellow, he doesn't get sent off in the second half.
2. Why no yellows for various Sydney fouls in first half?  Inexplicable, especially given soft yellows and daft reds for Phoenix.
3. Kosta has been good coming on as a late sub last few games, but was anonymous starting
4. Rufer surprisingly good, think he's been watching Messi: walk around, pounce only when you need to
5. Kraev's second yellow was not a yellow, free kick yes
6. Pennington's red (and Burgess' yellow) were both poor decisions.  After a hard tackle, Pennington moves on to get on with the game, Burgess chases after him and butts heads.  Burgess is advancing, Pennington retreating, while attempting to push back with his head. Naturally, Pennington puts his hands up to protect himself.  His hands ride up from Burgess' chest to neck, he immediately realises that and pulls them away.  To my mind, that's more a red for Burgess and at most a yellow for Pennington.  
7. First penalty. WTF?
8. Second penalty. Even bigger WTF?

It's funny how a ref can get in a downward spiral once they've started making poor decisions in a game.  It's even more amazing that the video assistant, who should provide a tempering of any on-field madness, can get caught up in the same madness and make it much worse.

Most amazing half of football I have ever seen.

Great win, though!!

WE won that! We won we won we won. It got more and more impossible. 10 men. 9 men. Added time. Penalty. Penalty. 
We bloody won that. Fantastic work team. 

As far as I'm concerned the worst call on the night was Pennington's red card. I just don't see how you can penalise the aggressor more than the guy trying to get away. 

Burgess clearly wants it - chases down Pennington to initiate the head to head contact and gives his a nipple a good twist too. Other thing I noticed was Burgess clamps his hand down on the back of Pennington to ensure he can't continue to walk off. Pennington is clearly trying to get away by pushing him off while giving him some choice words. In the end Lewis has to forcibly remove Burgess and Pennington just walks off. 

I can understand how a ref would get the call wrong because it's a melee and hard to tell who is doing what. That's why it is inexcusable that VAR didn't step in to have a look. I don't think Pennington is completely blameless though and that in my mind is why the VAR didn't step in because they're toothless and don't like to overule anything except the worst of the worst calls.

Having just finished catching up with the game, and I admit ending up bloody furious/ecstatic, here's a few things I would say about the officiating:

1} Clearly an edict has gone out this season for refs to clamp down harshly on any hint of a studs up offence, which is why we are getting situations like the Sasse and Kraev ones. For me good refs will have the confidence to apply a common sense interpretation of the rules, while lesser refs will tend to fling cards out immediately because that's what they've been told to do. The Kraev yellow was soft but unfortunately I can't say Evans was actually wrong to give it.

2) Evans decision to send off Pennington looked to me to be based on what VAR was telling him, or at least they were working it out between them. Again, because the rule book says you can't grab a man round the throat he's issued the red, so he's technically correct. But this is extremely harsh as Burgess initiated the forehead contact and Pennington was clearly trying to shove him away. An absurd decision that makes players, coaches and fans groan in frustration at the way officialdom often end up making it all about themselves instead of the game of football.

3) Evans believes he has seen/heard the ball touch Payne's hand which was way up in the air. He might be right, it's hard to tell from watching on tv. VAR obviously couldn't tell either, so upheld the penalty. 

4) VAR seems to have alerted Evans to the second hand ball, since neither he nor anyone else in the stadium saw it. Bad luck for us that VAR noticed it but it's not cheating, just an over zealous reading of the situation of a player having a ball smashed at him from point blank range.

It's a weird irony of football that dodgy officiating often leads to highly dramatic games, but I could do without that kind of drama quite frankly!
.
Oh and well done Phoenix, that was one of the gutsiest wins I've seen from us in 15 years.

anaveragestem

As far as I'm concerned the worst call on the night was Pennington's red card. I just don't see how you can penalise the aggressor more than the guy trying to get away. 

Burgess clearly wants it - chases down Pennington to initiate the head to head contact and gives his a nipple a good twist too. Other thing I noticed was Burgess clamps his hand down on the back of Pennington to ensure he can't continue to walk off. Pennington is clearly trying to get away by pushing him off while giving him some choice words. In the end Lewis has to forcibly remove Burgess and Pennington just walks off. 

I can understand how a ref would get the call wrong because it's a melee and hard to tell who is doing what. That's why it is inexcusable that VAR didn't step in to have a look. I don't think Pennington is completely blameless though and that in my mind is why the VAR didn't step in because they're toothless and don't like to overule anything except the worst of the worst calls.

Bet ya. Pennington will get a 3 week ban. if not more. 
Just to add salt from the officials.

I have refrained on posting on this until now having watched the game live to calm down.  It has taken best 20 odd hours to do so.  Heaven knows what i would be thinking had either of the penalties gone in.  

I hate to criticize officials because I am one in a different sport and know what it is like.  But I have to: 

For me the real culprit is actually the VAR.  Although I might say one thing here that the vast majority do not agree with.

The first red:  Farcical.  Foul at best for the 2nd yellow.  A good referee would have given a very direct verbal warning to Kreav that he was on a yellow and to be very very careful.  My understanding is that we cannot appeal this one because it was yellow card.  Only Straight reds can be appealed

Second red: Absolute farce.  For those going on about the alleged grab to the throat watch it again and concentrate solely on what Evans does.  After giving the red card he gestures with his hand to his own forehead.  Clear indication that it was for head-to-head contact.  So, what did he put in his report for the Burgess yellow card?  To my mind, Burgess instigated the contact.  Surely VAR could/should have been involved.  I hope we appeal this one.  Can the authorities upgrade Burgess to red?

The first penalty:  Now for this, I actually do feel a little for Evans, to be fair, Payne did have his arm in the air and the ball did deflect off of him.  If we are watching this on TV, we had an elevated multi camera view.  For Evans, he had a ground level single look and we do not know who, if anyone, was in the way.  He would have seen that raised arm and the defelction.  So, I can understand that being given.  That does not excuse the VAR though. Penalties given on the field are automatically VAR reviewed. It clearly came off Payne's back and not his arm.  Should have been overturned.


The second penalty:  Again, to be fair to Evans, this was not given by him.  He indicated corner.  VAR called him over.  I am not convinced it was clearly not a penalty.  I rather suspect that we would have been crying out for one if the other way around.

That does not though IMHO excuse the overall performance of Evans and his crew including VAR which was frankly disgraceful.  One only has to look at the charmed life Grant got cards wise to allege that some form of agenda was being followed.

Walsall Boy

I have refrained on posting on this until now having watched the game live to calm down.  It has taken best 20 odd hours to do so.  Heaven knows what i would be thinking had either of the penalties gone in.  

I hate to criticize officials because I am one in a different sport and know what it is like.  But I have to: 

For me the real culprit is actually the VAR.  Although I might say one thing here that the vast majority do not agree with.

The first red:  Farcical.  Foul at best for the 2nd yellow.  A good referee would have given a very direct verbal warning to Kreav that he was on a yellow and to be very very careful.  My understanding is that we cannot appeal this one because it was yellow card.  Only Straight reds can be appealed

Second red: Absolute farce.  For those going on about the alleged grab to the throat watch it again and concentrate solely on what Evans does.  After giving the red card he gestures with his hand to his own forehead.  Clear indication that it was for head-to-head contact.  So, what did he put in his report for the Burgess yellow card?  To my mind, Burgess instigated the contact.  Surely VAR could/should have been involved.  I hope we appeal this one.  Can the authorities upgrade Burgess to red?

The first penalty:  Now for this, I actually do feel a little for Evans, to be fair, Payne did have his arm in the air and the ball did deflect off of him.  If we are watching this on TV, we had an elevated multi camera view.  For Evans, he had a ground level single look and we do not know who, if anyone, was in the way.  He would have seen that raised arm and the defelction.  So, I can understand that being given.  That does not excuse the VAR though. Penalties given on the field are automatically VAR reviewed. It clearly came off Payne's back and not his arm.  Should have been overturned.


The second penalty:  Again, to be fair to Evans, this was not given by him.  He indicated corner.  VAR called him over.  I am not convinced it was clearly not a penalty.  I rather suspect that we would have been crying out for one if the other way around.

That does not though IMHO excuse the overall performance of Evans and his crew including VAR which was frankly disgraceful.  One only has to look at the charmed life Grant got cards wise to allege that some form of agenda was being followed.

I agree with all this but maybe the 1st penalty is being a bit nice on Evans as if he couldn't clearly see it hit his arm and being a clear & obvious decision why call it? and just let VAR look at it? Like he did with the second one.

May this clean sheet be the start of many!