Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries' Symes: Ref was taking the Michael
MICHAEL Symes revealed some curious logic from referee Grant Hegley robbed Cherries of a penalty during their League One opener at Charlton on Saturday.[LNB] The striker, who was returning following a pre-season groin injury, had an eventful second half after coming on as a substitute for Harry Arter at the Valley.[LNB] Symes was in the thick of the action when Addicks midfielder Jose Semedo received a straight red card for a poor challenge on the Cherries debutant.[LNB] And he also took centre stage when Cherries were denied a spot kick after his goalbound strike appeared to have been handled by Charlton defender Gary Doherty.[LNB] Symes told the Daily Echo: From my angle, it was going in and he just raised his hand and saved it. I thought it should have been a penalty.[LNB] The ref said it was handball but, that if he was going to give a penalty there, he would have had to give one at the other end when the ball hit Bradders (Lee Bradbury) on the arm.[LNB] While both penalty claims looked good, Cherries also had another spot-kick appeal turned down after Marc Pugh had gone to ground, the official deeming the foul had taken place outside the 18-yard box.[LNB] Symes also admitted he sympathised with Semedo and said he would have been disappointed to have seen red had the boot been on the other foot.[LNB] To start with, it was a bad touch by me, said the 26-year-old. I was trying to retrieve the ball and he came in. I didn't think it was that much of a bad tackle. We were both low and it wasn't as if he went over the top or anything. He did catch me so, whatever the ref says, goes.[LNB] Symes came on as a half-time replacement for Arter with boss Eddie Howe's decision to switch formations resulting in a vastly-improved showing from Cherries.[LNB] However, despite enjoying the better of the second half, Cherries were left to rue a poor first-half display with Akpo Sodje grabbing the only goal of the game after 22 minutes.[LNB] Cherries will be hoping to take their second-half performance to St Mary's tomorrow when they meet neighbours Southampton in the first round of the Carling Cup.[LNB] Boss Howe said: As a professional footballer, if you have lost, you are going to be down. I want and expect that. But it's important we bounce back in the right way.[LNB]
