“ NEIL WARNOCK BLAMES REF INSTEAD OF HIMSELF “

NEIL WARNOCK BLAMES REF INSTEAD OF HIMSELF

Friday 22nd February 2019

By Tom Coleman

Neil Warnock has claimed referee Simon Hooper has admitted he made a mistake in not awarding Cardiff City a crucial penalty in their 5-1 defeat to Watford.

Hooper was at the centre of controversy when he decided not to award the Bluebirds a spot kick just before the break, despite replays pointing to a clear foul on Josh Murphy from Hornets defender Daryl Janmaat.

Cardiff were trailing by a single goal at the time, and would go on to lose 5-1, as Gerard Deulofeu netted a hat-trick and Troy Deeney a brace on an utterly miserable evening for the hosts.

However, Warnock insists it could have all been so different had his side been handed the chance to get back on level terms from the spot.

"I think when you play the game, and you're in football you know how goals change games," said the Bluebirds bpss.

"There's no excuse for getting battered 5-1, although I've got to say I thought they were a good side.

"But you can have confidence when you're two or three up. I still don't understand it.

"He says he's seen it and he's made a mistake. Now I'm 70 years of age and mistakes like that shouldn't be made.

"Not at this level.

"I like him as a referee, but he's in a good position. It's the most straightforward one you'll get really. It's 100 per cent.

"Going in 1-1 with our tails up and the crowd behind us it's a different game."

Penalty controversy aside, there was no getting away from the fact that this was a desperately worrying performance from the Bluebirds, with Warnock opening up on the extent of his side's despondence at half-time.

And he says Cardiff will need to rise above any further disappointments if they are to confound the critics and stay in the Premier League for another season.

"We're going to get disappointments. We're going to get teams turning us over like that. So, we've got to get over that disappointment out of our system.

"But it is difficult when you have an opportunity, legitimately, and it's not given."

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Yes as a point but from being at game they certainly looked more likely to win game drawing or not at halftime! His decision to play Morrison for whatever reason was instrumental in a hesitant and confused defensive display and coupled with the 2 other changes ultimately led to defeat not because of the ref.

Yes as a point but from being at game they certainly looked more likely to win game drawing or not at halftime! His decision to play Morrison for whatever reason was instrumental in a hesitant and confused defensive display and coupled with the 2 other changes ultimately led to defeat not because of the ref.

Poor judgment,,,, & after all that has come to pass recently, could easily be adversely misinterpreted.

Yes as a point but from being at game they certainly looked more likely to win game drawing or not at halftime! His decision to play Morrison for whatever reason was instrumental in a hesitant and confused defensive display and coupled with the 2 other changes ultimately led to defeat not because of the ref.

big decisions change games.

He has an overwhelming need to play certain players and not drop them. We have a mentality that suggests we roll over and take a spanking from teams in the top 7 or 8.

But, taking tonight away, we are in a great spot and for me it’s a 4 way battle with Fulham, and they look doomed, Southampton and Brighton - Huddersfield are gone.

Brighton for me are looking likely they cannot but a win, Tuesday is massive, so drink this one away and forget it, it’s all about the next game.

That’s as positive as I can be.

Decisions turn matches at this level. The ref missed a blatant pen - and has admitted it, and it should have been a red card.
If those correct decisions had been given (like any professional ref would have) then it would have changed the game - especially as it was 0 0 at the time, I believe.

Neil should have kept the same team as SOTON BUT - I think he would have fancied his chances more against Everton than Watford - so lets see what happens next tuesday

While 30000 fans blame Warnock instead of the ref.
Absolutely no justification for picking Morrison. Shambles. I was really excited for this game following recent performances, but now I’m not even looking forward to Tuesday.

It looked like a penalty to me and I sit in the Canton stand and that could have made it 1-1, if we’d scored. But NW complaining about this decision, is only covering up for what was a diabolical performance. I accept Watford are a pretty good team with some quality players, but to lose 5-1 to them, wasn’t something I was expecting. Why change a winning team ? and why bring SM back in, who looked very leggy.

It was a penalty as far as I was concerned and the ref had a very poor game, as did all the officials. However bad they were, our team were even worse. 1-0 down at half time is not the end of the world. We have won from losing positions plenty of times. I'm afraid you cannot blame the ref for us conceding four second half goals. Team selection baffled me a bit, and I thought we got the tactics wrong as well. All in all we were absolute crap, and the result is what our play warranted. No point dwelling on it, what's done can't be undone, just have to make sure lessons are learnt and this sort of stuff is not repeated. We are still in with a shout, 17th place was always a realistic target and still is.

It looked like a penalty to me and I sit in the Canton stand and that could have made it 1-1, if we’d scored. But NW complaining about this decision, is only covering up for what was a diabolical performance. I accept Watford are a pretty good team with some quality players, but to lose 5-1 to them, wasn’t something I was expecting. Why change a winning team ? and why bring SM back in, who looked very leggy.

funny thing is NOBODY says this why change a winning team thing when we win , its happened since he has been here, he picks horses for courses and has done well doing that..

so lets find something else to have a pop about

Cant believe Morrisons is taking the blame for this! I think some people need to watch a replay of the match and see where the mistakes were. The whole team were shit, yes even Arter!

Poor team selection yes, but not because of Morrison, but Patterson was poor, why drop Reid? Murphy struggled massively, neither Ralls or Arter created much. Manga was ropey at best.

Why do we allow teams to travel great distances toward our goal unchallenged?

Why do we try to head the ball around the pitch when our team are crap at heading. We play great footbal when we play on the ground, it baffles me!

But no, lets blame Morrison!

Fair point about the winning team statement but I why bring SM in,after 6 weeks out, when the back four was looking a lot more solid in recent games.

Allan has got it right. Even if we had been awarded the penalty and hopefully scored, we still would have lost. They were to strong for us and more professional, We were outplayed. Warnock's team selection baffled everyone.. Morrison was not fit and he was useless last night as were Bennett, Paterson, Hoilett, Arter, Ralls and Niasse.
As usual Warnock would make a big play on the penalty not given. It is looking a bit tight for us at the moment in the relegation battle.

It looked like a penalty to me and I sit in the Canton stand and that could have made it 1-1, if we’d scored. But NW complaining about this decision, is only covering up for what was a diabolical performance. I accept Watford are a pretty good team with some quality players, but to lose 5-1 to them, wasn’t something I was expecting. Why change a winning team ? and why bring SM back in, who looked very leggy.

Sorry Neil. I forgot you read this forum

funny thing is NOBODY says this why change a winning team thing when we win , its happened since he has been here, he picks horses for courses and has done well doing that..

so lets find something else to have a pop about

Allan has got it right. Even if we had been awarded the penalty and hopefully scored, we still would have lost. They were to strong for us and more professional, We were outplayed. Warnock's team selection baffled everyone.. Morrison was not fit and he was useless last night as were Bennett, Paterson, Hoilett, Arter, Ralls and Niasse.
As usual Warnock would make a big play on the penalty not given. It is looking a bit tight for us at the moment in the relegation battle.

Not only me saying same thing though! People are saying he knows he got it wrong but bet he plays Morrison again its not that he didn't have better options he just chose his favourite players instead?

Two week break stopped the momentum