Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Howe in ref rage after St Mary's defeat
EDDIE Howe vented his frustration and claimed all the major decisions went against his side after Cherries were defeated in a stormy south coast showdown.[LNB] Boss Howe admitted his team felt hard done by after Saints were awarded two hotly-disputed penalties while Cherries saw appeals waved away at the other end in a spicy derby encounter.[LNB] The League One fixture, the first league meeting between the neighbouring clubs since 1960, was decided by two Rickie Lambert spot kicks, either side of half-time.[LNB] But Howe questioned the decision to award penalties against Rhoys Wiggins, given by one of the linesmen for handball, and Marvin Bartley, before insisting Cherries were denied two absolutely blatant spot kicks of their own late on for challenges on Steve Fletcher.[LNB] Howe conceded his team could have done better and gave credit to Saints but, not usually one to comment on match officials, he also felt referee Kevin Wright's decisions favoured the home side.[LNB] He said: The first penalty, Rhoys said he was fouled. The ball touched his arm but he was fouled. The second one, I thought, was very debatable.[LNB] I felt we had at least four good shouts ourselves two at the end were absolutely nailed on.[LNB] You need a strong referee. You need one that will give fair decisions to both teams, but I think if you look at the major incidents, they all went against us every single one.[LNB] We feel hard done by. It's not like us to say that about referees I'm not one to comment on them because I think it's a tough job.[LNB] I've never commented on referees. It's always about ourselves but I think, on Saturday, it was obvious for everyone in the ground as well. I think that was the disappointing thing because it sort of ruined the game.[LNB] Howe added: It's the second time we've come here and I probably felt we performed better in the first game than this one.[LNB] I wanted us to take the game to them but, apart from the bright opening couple of minutes, we then found ourselves under pressure and didn't keep the ball well enough and never really got in any rhythm.[LNB] Credit to Southampton because I think they will be very strong this year.[LNB] Cherries finished the match with 10 men after Adam Smith saw red for a second bookable offence.[LNB] They were two fouls and two bookings, admitted Howe.[LNB] But it's hard enough to come here at the best of times, let alone to have to fight back from two goals that you feel shouldn't have been given against you.[LNB] When asked about the referee by BBC Radio Solent, Saints boss Nigel Adkins said: They're out there, they've got a hard job to do and we've got to accept the decisions they give.[LNB] The Echo was unable to ask the referee for a comment as a Saints official said match officials do not talk to the media.[LNB]
