Referring Decisions Anger Roy

27 November 2011 16:29
Boss Upset After Tottenham Defeat.

Albion boss Roy Hodgson was left ruing controversial penalty decisions which influenced the Baggies’ 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Baggies built on the momentum taken from the Bolton game and opened the scoring in the tenth minute when Youssouf Mulumbu glanced in Steven Reid’s excellent cross.

But Albion were again on the end of a dubious penalty decision when Nicky Shorey was adjudged to have tripped Aaron Lennon in the 25th minute. Ben Foster saved Emmanuel Adebayor’s initial penalty, but was helpless to stop the striker slotting the rebound beneath his feet.

The majority of the Hawthorns then thought it was Albion’s turn to be awarded a spot kick when Jerome Thomas went down under Kyle Walker’s clumsy challenge but referee Lee Probert waved away noisy appeals.

Gareth McAuley then had a goal disallowed when referee Probert adjudged the defender to have felled Spurs’ goalkeeper Brad Friedel as the American carried the ball over the line.

After the break, Albion continued to push forward with James Morrison this time having appeals for a spot kick turned down when he was bundled over on the edge of the area. Chris Brunt and Simon Cox both had excellent changes to restore the lead for the Baggies before Jermaine Defoe’s goal nine minutes from time.

As Albion swarmed forward in search of an equaliser, Adebayor scored his second of the game in added time to secure the points for the visitors.

"I don't really think we deserved to lose," said Hodgson.

"Spurs had a number of attacking chances towards the end - and in the end they did score two goals.

"But for large parts of the game, I felt we did very well.

"I thought in the first half we played particularly well.

"We even coped with the loss of Zoltan, which was a blow for us.

"In the second half, I thought Tottenham played better without dominating us particularly.

"But, of course, they scored the second on the counter-attack and we had to really just open ourselves up and try everything we could in the last six or seven minutes to get an equaliser.

"Unfortunately, it led to an injury-time goal for them after two or three other possibilities on the counter-attack, because we were pushing men forward to try and get a goal.

"We don't have a player like Defoe who can run 50 yards and outstrip the whole of the opposition. They have - and it paid off.

"I thought the shape of the team and our passing and movement were good - but the result was rubbish!"

Hodgson also wished for a change of fortune in the opposing penalty area after seeing a spot kick awarded against the Stripes for the third consecutive home game.

"I think we've had more penalties given against us than any other team," he added.

"I see players go down in our penalty area after challenges that don't look particularly vicious.

"Then I see our players go down in the penalty area under challenges that don't look particularly vicious and the referee makes the decision which ones to give and which ones not to give.

"I think we need a bit of luck in that department."

Do you think Albion deserved something against Spurs? Have your say here at Baggies Banter. 

Source: FOOTYMAD