I can only think it was so early , it was before the cameras were focussed on Matt and the defender. I didn’t celebrate at all, I was so sure it wouldn’t be given.( I was at the top of the upper.) The only thing that annoyed me was it was just the sort of thing Wimbledon got away with repeatedly.
There were pushes like that all over the pitch which went unpunished. I thought it was rightly disallowed but then you see what followed in the game. Like many I know I don’t know what the rules are…when is a push not a push.
To be fair i have stuck him for him but recently he has been crap. Culminating with the performance he put in against this lot. Absolutley woeful, hard to defend him at the moment.
At the time i wasn’t bothered as i thought he fouled him by running through him. The replay makes it look soft though. Really one that goes two ways but then the ref proceeds to ref the game with challenges like that not even being a foul.
But once again, another week, another ref…
Summed up when, after Hornby’s injury, he wanted to restart the game with a drop ball until Liam Gordon told him that the ball had already gone out for a throw-in.
On his day, great. Has been a passenger for weeks. The 3 consecutive corners dribbled along the floor, a few games ago, was symbolic of his post January abilities.
Even though it was a push, I do wonder if the ref actually saw it, or whether he saw Matt heading the ball, a defender on the ground and automatically blew just because it was Matt. I wonder if he’d have given it if it had been Levi.
Am I wrong - didn’t the linesman give the push?
He may well have he was in the best position.
Possibly. I didn’t consider it because most refs don’t use them much for fouls these days. A lot only signal whose throw it is after the ref has.
Exactly this! Football is not an exact science - in an ideal world, Bobbins would have let Nathan Lowe stay with us and we would have won another 4 or 5 games that would have meant we would already be champions! But, unfortunately, life ain’t life that. We now have 5 cup finals, it’s still in our hands. But, as you say, I’ve got some great memories from this season - being near the top is much better than struggling to reach 15th!! In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger: I’ll be back!!
You can see the foul clearly on the replay. Matt ran into the defender and pushed him over with two hands. The referee was already blowing his whistle for a foul before the ball went in the net, but the linesman did not give it.
As for the penalty, even McEntee did not dispute it, because he slid in, missed the ball and took the forward’s legs from under him.
My eyes were on the ref to be fair but in the footage, it looks like Jamma is gesticulating to the Lino?
The linesman gave sweet FA all game in terms of fouls. It drove me nuts! Lost my voice telling him to get involved in the game.
I think the worst decision by the ref that game was in the corner at the Vale End when one of the Vale players smashed the ball point blank and one of our players protected his face and the ref gave handball. It was absolutely insane.
Thought the ref got the big decisions he had to make spot on . Then spoilt his overall performance by giving vale way to much.
No real complaints though as vale deserved there 3 points and won almost every 2nd ball
When we lost 6-2 vs Fleetwood I posted that they had provided a Template for anyone who wanted to beat us. It took a while but we pretty much all agree we have been found out. Our weaknesses have been with us most of the season and were present during our winning run but it is only now we are being truly punished. Sadler and his coaching team have been unable or unwilling to do anything about them.
- put crosses / long throws / long balls / into the box and we will not block them and will not win the first header. Yesterdays long throws from Vale are a perfect example.
- from those crosses have a man coming in at the far post - he will get a free header from a dangerous position and the goalie will remain on his line.
- From set pieces put a man on the edge of the box and the back post. Both will remain unmarked and have time to shoot or set something up.
- shoot at the keeper because (Simkin) does not save much that is on target.
- play long diagonal balls towards Liam Gordon as he will be out of position / lose possession and present opportunities
- when you see Stirk get the ball crowd him and he will panic and give the ball away or just let you tackle him.
This I think covers the main ones.
UP THE SADDLERS
I agree. I would bring in Daniels’ experience in place of Dave, playing in the middle, with McEntee and Allen either side. My 18 for Saturday would be:
Hornby - Barrett - McEntee; Daniels; Allen - Gordon - Hall; Stirk; Lakin - Harrison; Amantchi
Subs: Simkin; Asiimwe; Williams; Adomah; Jellis; Matt; DJ
We need to freshen things up. Let’s hope Sadler can see what we see and is brave enough to make the necessary changes. It’s sht or bust time now!
Can’t see Hall starting a game, looked absolutely wrecked yesterday towards the end
Mate, I’ve lost my balance and measure. In fact, as the kids might say I’ve also lost my “shit”.
Yesterday was our Accrington in 2019, our Barnsley in 2016, our Crewe in 1993, our Gillingham in 2004.
It was a day we needed the character of Sheffield United in 1981, Bristol City in 1988, Bury in 94 the Millenium in 2001, Swindon in 2007 or Lincoln in 99.
At the back of my mind, as today’s gone on, I’m growing a seed of hope. In any sport there’s a pressure being out in front for ages. Being the chased rather than the chaser. Trying to hold on to something rather than grabbing it.
Maybe just maybe, not being top lifts some kind of weight.
RAM is back, with glowing references from teammates and fans of a team one league below us. We can dream, but after giving his failing favourites game after game to ‘put things right’, Saddler finally refreshes the team and gives gifted players their chance in the next five games. His ‘favourites’ are the problem not the solution.