West Bromwich Albion Football Club News

• Nickname:The Baggies
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:The Hawthorns
• Capacity:25,400

Mowbray unhappy with refs

30 Jan 2009 - 07:33:35

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West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray has accused referees of being too friendly some high-profile Premier League players.

Mowbray has spoken of his concerns following the club's successful appeal against the red card shown by referee Rob Styles to Baggies captain Paul Robinson during Tuesday's 5-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

"It can irritate you them calling their players by the first name and trying to calm them down being pally," claimed Mowbray.

"I'm not questioning the integrity of referees, yet you should always feel that there's a level playing field.

"A yellow card instantly comes out for our players and he (Styles) hasn't got a clue what his name is.

"It's not something you have to be a lip-reader to do. Referees genuinely are on first-name terms with some of these players.

"Maybe officials, because they've had to referee Manchester United for so long, they get used to it and there's a feeling they know their players better and we're just a newly promoted team."

Meanwhile, Albion are close to completing the signing of DR Congo international Youssouf Mulumbu.

The 22-year-old midfielder is poised to join the Baggies from French side Paris St Germain.