| evil_bastard |
Sort yourselves out the pair of you. Anyone who saw Aston Villa v Newcastle United this afternoon knows exactly what I'm talking about.
Andy O'Brien was sent off after 10 minutes. He and Vassell chased a loose ball, Vassell obviously being the faster player. As they both approached the ball they tussle but minimal contact is made. Running at high speed, both lose their footing and fall. An innocuous challenge. No, O'Brien is sent off, the game isn't even 10 minutes old. Soon after, De La Cruz does an horrific tackle on Bernard, clearly not going for the ball and stamping right on his foot/lower shin after Bernard beat him to a loose ball. De La Cruz escapes with a yellow card. Villa are beginning to sense this is their day, and test the referee with some dubious challenges. Sure enough, they can carry on as they like. Shearer is pulled back from the ball time and again in the first half, but his protests fall on deaf ears. He is called offside whilst just yards away from the linesman and onside by at least a metre. A clear chance for Newcastle becomes a free kick to Villa, a recurring theme. Newcastle sit tight and begin to frustrate Villa, who can't make their extra man count. A Viana flick on is saved by Sorensen, as is a Shearer header and Jenas can't flick it past the keeper from a few yards out. Villa enjoy a lot of possession in Newcastle's half, but can't do anything with it, achieving just one strike on target in the whole game, a header straight at Given. Villa are frustrated at the way the game is going, Newcastle are frustrated at the way the ref and his assistants are behaving. Knight's decisions are making a difficult decision worse, and on numerous occasions he must stall time to call over two tussling players. Speed and Hendrie have a tussle in the middle of the park, nodding foreheads in a warning manner. Hendrie hesitates before grabbing his face, such a feeble attempt at cheating that the whole pub I'm in bursts out in laughter. Villa are getting desperate, but the referee manages to overlook the incident (the dumb ****** didn't see it).
The officiating is getting farcical and Newcastle have had enough. Tackles start flying in from both sides, Shearer swiping for the ball and taking the player. Yellow card. Bridges does the same. Yellow card. Even Given is issued a yellow card for 'timewasting' from a goal kick. Now Villa are appealing for absolutely everything, with this ref anything is worth a try. Hendrie confronts Speed again, and drops to the floor as if he's been shot by a sniper. The replay shows no contact, but Villa are awarded a dangerous free kick, which fizzles out into nothing. The game ends in 0-0, although I suspect the Villa fans felt more relieved than the Newcastle fans.
At the end of a dirty game this has been an expensive point for Newcastle, fighting 80 minues with 10 men just three days after PSV and four days ahead of the UEFA Cup tie with Marseille. A player needlessly sent off, three others needlessly booked, whilst Bellamy and Jenas could be injured for a while and Dyer and Bowyer look to have picked up knocks and could be out. I bet Marseille are laughing.
I feel let down by the officiating today, which was clearly in support of one side in such an important game. Newcastle are left counting the injuries and the possible suspensions because the referee let things get out of hand. In the words of Tim Flowers on BBC Radio 5 - "I think Mr Knight has been a wee bit more favourable to villa!".
As for O'Leary's comments after the match, he should concentrate on his own side's dismal performance rather than accuse the better side of timewasting. |
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