Graham Poll: Wiley deserves a big hand

16 March 2009 12:09
Big performances in big games are all about the big decisions and how nice to be able to write on the excellence of a referee in a top Premier League game. The build-up to United-Liverpool confirmed that it is the game of the season and referees will tell you that penalties and red cards are the biggest decisions. Off you go: Alan Wiley red cards Nemanja Vidic. Alan Wiley had a number of these decisions to make and the fact that he got every important call correct is testament to his detection of offences and that, with his vast experience, he is a top referee well capable of controlling this type of encounter. Of course, you could say the two penalties were straightforward - Pepe Reina rushed out and took Ji-Sung Park's leg away and Patrice Evra clearly brought down Steven Gerrard on half-time. However, this season has seen so many inexplicable decisions that it was refreshing to see Wiley get both right. There were two other good appeals for penalties, the best being Nemanja Vidic's block on Fernando Torres, but Wiley understood the need to give only 'nailed-on' penalties. That takes experience, as did Wiley's toughest decision in the 76th minute when Vidic was wrong-footed and brought Gerrard down to stop him going clear. It had been a torrid game for the previous favourite for the Footballer of the Year award who was also at fault for Liverpool's first goal, but which card would follow? I thought that red would be correct, as did the Liverpool players who unnecessarily crowded Wiley. United players joined the throng in defence of their man but perhaps Wiley's best asset is that he remains calm through key moments. He took his time, kept Vidic close to him while waving all the other players away and, once isolated, correctly dismissed the Serbia international. Textbook stuff.  

Source: Daily_Mail