I went to the Millwall-West Ham game yesterday. Mate gave me a ticket in the home end (west upper). Long time since I went to a game where it did'nt bother me who won or lost. Thought the game was pretty even, and overall I thought a draw was a fair result. Millwall lacked a little upfront, but Carlton Cole did'nt exactly do much for the Hamsters. Amazing incident when the game kicked off, the Millwall keeper was off the pitch nearly behind his goal, and a West Ham player took a shot at the empty net, which whistled past the post. The Millwall keeper and home crowd were none too pleased with the ref and gave him plenty of stick.
I heard of this incident on the radio yesterday, Rifleman and it's reported in the paper today - but it didn't actually say what he was doing. Was he checking the net? Was he putting his keeper's bag away? Did he just not hear the whistle and was chatting with the fans? All very odd, and of course could have changed the game.
Referees by the letter of the law have to check with the two keepers before kick off. If forde raised his hands, then the ref was right. If he didn't check, he will be in a lot of trouble.
Not sure what he was doing Tewks. I was watching the kick off and then this West Ham player took a shot, it was only when I followed the ball I noticed the keeper off the pitch. If that had been on target, the goal would have stood, and I think we might then have had a very lively few minutes.
