City skipper: Referee missed blatant foul before their goal
MATT Taylor took a swipe at referee Mark Haywood for allowing Adam Lallana's goal to stand during Exeter City's 1-1 draw with Southampton at St James's Park on Saturday.
The City skipper claims the official should have spotted that he had been fouled in the build-up to the goal.
Taylor said: "We are disappointed with their goal because we felt there was a foul in the build-up.
"One of their lads has jumped into me and pushed me off the ball, but the ref said that he didn't see it because there were players in his line of vision.
"So in that situation he has got to rely on his linesman and the linesman didn't give anything.
"Of course we have still got to defend the cross after that.
"But we kept them to minimal chances on Saturday and dealt well with what they threw at us."
Despite Taylor's frustrations with some of the referee's decisions on Saturday, the defender believes the point is further proof that City have bounced back from their sticky patch.
"We deserved a point and we could have nicked all three at the end," said Taylor, who scored a header in City's 3-1 defeat at Southampton on Boxing Day.
"We have said all along that we have to make our home form really count and on the whole we have done that.
"We were disappointed with the first half against Carlisle and we felt we were conceding too many soft goals and were being toothless in midfield and attack.
"To only concede two goals in the last two games against top sides shows that we are not as open as we have been in the last few weeks.
"We are much tighter as a unit which we need to be at this stage of the season.
"It is going to be a battle. It is almost like we raise our game for the better teams but we have got to do it week in week out.
"We have got some big games and some big home games coming up.
"If we keep giving 100 per cent we have got enough quality in this team to come through."
Taylor netted his fourth strike of the season to earn City a crucial point and he was quick to acknowledge the part Scott Golbourne played in the goal.
"It was one of the best deliveries we have had all season," he said.
"It was a great corner and if we put the ball in the right areas we have got enough players who can attack the ball in the air.
"It was a superb cross and it was nice to get the equaliser."
3 Comments
by SKoM, Cullompton
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:27PM
“As it happens Ian, yes I have.”
by Ian, Southampton
Monday, February 08 2010, 11:30AM
“This happens in every game. Just watch how many fouls occur, next time you watch a corner being taken. The ref could give any one of ten fouls in either direction. As for the comments about the assistant referee, have you ever tried doing that job? I have, and let me tell you, you would need ten pairs of eyes to see everything that goes on. Next time that you get a chance, try it. How can anyone watch the line of the second last defender, and watch when the pass is being made, as well as seeing an incident somewhere else on the pitch? The first two are nigh on impossible, let alone the last one. The guys who do this job are heroes, and then they have to put up with criticism from people who have never even tried to do the thankless task....”
by SKoM, Cullompton
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:51AM
“"but the ref said that he didn't see it because there were players in his line of vision."
Isn't that what the referee's assistant is for? Or are they there (as many suspect) just for a nice run up and down the sideline?”