Originally Posted by
AstonAlex
I believe that the referee is only obliged (and expected) to stop play if the injury is either a head injury or potentially serious (don't ask me how he is expected to judge that!), or if the player is in a place where he might interfere with play, as Grant wasn't.
Like all professional footballers I would expect us to play to the whistle, but would also expect us to return the ball in the instance when the Vale didn't, whatever the score. Again, though, it is within the referee's discretion to give a free kick for unsportsmanlike behaviour in such circumstances, I think.
While we are on the subject of referees, can we have him again please? I thought he let the game flow, played advantage where possible but was prepared to bring play back where it didn't result, and was generally pretty good. Don't know if Vale fans would agree, but compared with some we've had, 9 out of 10.