Monday 17 February 2014

Referee made right call on Grabban penalty claim

It does not fully surprise me that Lewis Grabban says AFCB should have received a penalty for the Kieran Trippier foul in the 79th minute of the game against Burnley. At the time I had thought it was Jason Shackell who had brought him down and I was not certain if it was in or outside the box, but having seen the incident on AFCB Player I would say that contact was initially made outside the area. I know this is a different opinion to Paul Merson and the Bournemouth Echo's Neil Perret who say "the infringement appeared to occur inside the penalty area", but AFCB can shout injustice as much as they like though, it won't make any difference.

Lewis feels aggrieved about penalty claim. 
I did say in the podcast on All Departments that the referee Graham Scott should have perhaps consulted his assistant referee on such a key moment of the game, but he decided not to feeling that he made the right call. It was a brave decision and I believe it was the correct one however much I would have liked him to have made a different decision at the time. Graham Scott was in a decent enough position to judge for himself and only momentum took Grabban well inside the box. I can't say I would have called it any differently, but I would have sought a second opinion. Who would be a referee?

The pleasing aspect of Saturday is that AFCB's players showed that they are more than a match for the best teams in the Championship. With a bit more luck and a few more efforts at goal like we saw in the closing stages against Burnley the team would have recorded another win. Eddie Howe must take the positives out of the performance and move on. 

Graham Scott and his assistant referees at Dean Court.
Burnley only managed one shot on goal compared to AFCB's seven and had Tom Heaton not been in such good form the game would surely have been another home win. It is a shame for Grabban that he did not get the chance to add to his goals from the 12 yard spot, but perhaps the decisions will be kinder against Derby County. What with the disputed Leicester goal and this penalty claim, AFCB can feel a bit hard done by in recent weeks. But that's football.

For further reaction on AFCB 1 v 1 Burnley have a listen to All Departments' Kangaroo Court. It features Cherry Chimes this week, as I question whether Harry Arter was really man of the match against Burnley. Visit All Departments' website or listen on Cherry Chimes by scrolling down the right hand panel until you see Kangaroo Court and click on the sound bar.  

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