Strutting and Preening Referees Need to Go Back to Basics

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1. 

   anthony thorpe on April 18, 2013 at 7:01 pm

   Hello mate
   I’m a Blades fan and agree with your overall assessment of the ref. My take on it is this: the first penalty should never have been given as the striker got his shot off, he missed, and the keeper’s momentum carried him into the man (Donaldson?). Our man Maguire was beaten for pace a few times and the 1st yellow that Donaldson got for a dive should actually have been Maguire’s 2nd yellow and a sending off. Having said that, there was a deliberate elbow by one of your guys on McMahon requiring off-pitch treatment and a bandaged head – the offence unnoticed by neither ref nor linesman. Our first penalty I think only the linesman saw but the second one was a clear handball. As for your second penalty let’s just say that the ref was trying to “even up” and leave it there. Many Bees fans have claimed we were “dirty” or “physical” but honest football fans from both sides must surely agree that it was a passionate contest but was certainly not a “dirty” one, and totting up the card count and dropping in the elbow that wasn’t (despite the blood) the neutral could be forgiven for thinking it was Brentford who came spoiling for a battle. In any event, such was the ineptitude of the officials, a real match was out of the question so I don’t blame either side for getting caught up in the atmosphere. We had more chances, you took yours when you had them, and while it’s disappointing to lose such a late goal in such an important game, I think we as Blades fans are just happy that our team has rediscovered its fight and will to win. It’s the Play-Offs for us, maybe for you guys. More entertainment to come no doubt – depending on who gets the call to officiate! All the best!

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