Not sure but that was Dowd's first red of the season in the Championship, there's at least two refs who have sent off four that I can find. Anyway, I'm sure you expect me to defend the ref...so I will. The second one was soft and could have gone either way, I don't think the ref really needed to book him for that one. I'm sorry to say that Fox's first one was a 100%, stick on, undisputed yellow card. The guy who fouled Guly was correctly cautioned. The other Fox challenge was a bit of a weird one that I'm not convinced was a foul either way, probably caused by the snow. And apart from that, I can't remember any more controversial incidents.
looked like the ref was conned for the first yellow. He went down like he'd been shot ditto the second ridiculous theatrics
You're obviously joking there. Video technology is objective because it doesn't have the ability to interpret. A referee is subjective, because what he doesn't see perfectly he will interpret. Sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly.
You're more than welcome to. Just seen it all again on the FL show and I am not really sure why he has bothered to pull the second yellow for that one, maybe the lino made the decision. Anyway I'm not going to get too upset about it because he only misses a game he wasn't going to play in anyway.
Having seen the tackles several times it has not altered my opinion, that either was not a card-able offence. However I can see and understand why the ref gave one for the first challenge. You are not allowed to leave the deck with both feet when you make a tackle studs showing or other wise, although granted he got the ball and not the player. The fact that the player rolled around as if he didn't have any legs left, no doubt influenced Dowd's decision. Players are more and more using this tactic to combat the tough tackles and refs seem to fall for it more often than not. As for the second offence again I think the ref has been conned by the player going down. In truth if you watch both players tussling for the ball it appeared to me that the ball didn't slow at all. I am of the opinion that the blues player had given up on the darn thing and was actually slowing and veering away. Now why Foxy kept his arm on the blokes shoulder we will never know!! At this point it was more of a triumphant push by Foxy to say to him that's another you didn't get. More of a friendly pat. At that point the guy had no hope of getting the ball but his play acting experience came into it. If he can't get Foxy one way he will get another and went over as if he had been tugged by an elephant. Dowd fell for it hook line a sinker. At this point I think Dowd hadn't realised that Foxy had already been booked, had he done so I don't think he would have given out the card. He will be embarrassed when they show him the video recording of the game to analyse. However Fox is an experienced player he should know better than to give any player the opportunity to take advantage of any situation. So while I agree that both decisions on another day would not have been given as far as the second offence was concerned Fox's Naivety as much as anything didn't help.
From where I was in the stand it looked as though Fox said something to the linesman. Is that the case for those watching on TV? If so, he has only got himself to blame
I'd like to see some proof of this, but if true then I think a lot of us owe Dowd an apology. Clearly dissent is a yellow card (and as soft a foul as it was, it was still a foul, so Fox had no right to be complaining - not that you should complain any way), and with the first one, as much as I don't want that sort of tackle to be penalised - and it never used to be - the simple fact is that these days those tackles are penalised, and hence it was a yellow card. Not Dowd's fault, but the authorites. It was a cracking tackle, and referee's shouldn't be under instruction these days to rule them out of the game, imo.
If we get promotio to the Prem then we will have to adapt to the non contact style of play and refereeing We will need a drama/stunt coach to get up to prem standard diving and rolling about on the floor - who does Poyet and Brighton use?
Adam Johnson's play-acting yesterday was shocking. Yes he didn't dive for City's penalty, because there was contact - but there was only contact because he stuck his own leg out to ensure that he tripped over Baird's!
Technology will not help decisions like this. Burke threw himself down at every opportunity last night and the one thing you can't interpret easily is the amount of force used in a challenge. The fact is players will wait for any form of contact and will tumble especially in situations where they have lost control of the ball(eg the 2nd yellow for fox). Southampton players are no angles. Lallana did the classic leg straighten and awaited contact for the penalty appeal against Cardiff. Even dear old mick channon is a self confessed diver. The game is tough to ref as it is without 22 players all trying to con you too
His post-match explanation was almost laughable. He wasn't pressed on it by the interviewer, but in his head, he'd managed to make respectable a totally unsporting action. Chris Baird was actually trying to take his leg away, but Johnson managed to find it, to make contact.
