No beating about the bush, they deserved the win. We had them for 20 minutes then they switched formation and they had 85% of the game after that. We had 54% of the ball but poor passes and good pressing and covering by them meant we hardly ever looked dangerous. Just 4 shots all game and only the penalty on target. They managed 13 and 6 according to the stats but I'm struggling to remember more than the 2 goals and 2 saves.
Bird and Tommo's passing was way off today. Festy was ineffective as was Kaz. Loz miscued our only first half chance. McKenna blocked our only real 2nd half chance. He will be kicking himself for the penalty as Loz was never going to keep the ball in.
I'm wondering how many extra cards will be given for the post game handbags. Loz, Sibs and Samba are all candidates IMO. Ravel can't complain about his red either.
Same ref is in the home game. He was slightly better overall but in the last 20 he totally lost control. I think Samba was angry with Loz for that egg on his forehead. Yes, there was contact between head and foot but both were "entitled" to be where they were at the moment of impact. Loz didn't kick him, more Samba headed his foot. What happened later was, IMO related to that 2st half coming together. Samba should have gone for what he did following the penalty.
What was the ref doing after the penalty had been given? Samba given way too much leeway to try to put Loz off. Getting Loz to move the ball about 1mm. Samba should have seen a card for his post match antics on the pitch. Will he and others get retrospective cards? Probably not because if they give Sibs the card he richly deserves for his antics post match then they'll also have to do similar with Samba and others and they won't.
With my refs hat on, he got the Rav call right. Rav lost control of the ball and dived after it. Both feet off the ground, one leg straight and studs showing. He was no longer in control of where his body was going. His studs caught the ball and his momentum took his foot up and over the ball and into the player's leg.
Grabban was very lucky. Many a ref would have given him a straight red. This one chose not to. Shortly after Grabban deserved another yellow and got away with it. He should have gone.
Other have mentioned the total lack of control in added time. Simply, he was poor.
Brum at PP next week and then, we have 2 days left to find £7M if we haven't found it already or we lose the Golden Ticket and we are dead.