Craig Pawson from the Premier League. I consider he had a good game trying to let the game flow. He was not whistle happy or pedantic with players like some of the third tier idiots we've had this season. Could have booked Powell and Little for diving. I thought Powell would have got a pen off most refs and Little appeared to slip at the wrong moment. Ayling and ball to hand or hand to ball was too far away for me to comment. But again some of the twerps we have seen this season would have given it. Can we have Mr Pawson versus Swindle please.
I can see why he hasn't given it with the new directives about handball, but would agree many a ref would have! Its funny cos I thought he wasn't that good, missed loads of fouls on Matt Smith (one was a definite penalty !) was fussy about taking quick free kicks and should have booked Powell for the dive, I can't make my mind up about the Little one?
The arm was in the motion of moving which constitutes a penalty every time, and he controlled the ball with the same moving arm. Sometimes we need that kind of luck to get where we want to be and on the season it all averages out in the wash. I believe we also had a good shout turned down and from what I heard on the radio the ref was OK if somewhat tolerant.
BIGGEST disappointment was lack of match coverage on the tele, loads of chitter chatter before and after but not what would have been nice to discuss..OK it was 0-0 but an exciting 0-0 Those never having been there before... how close to MKD would LA have been? The "square bit" on the end is a large conference centre for those that did know!
Having seen it, a bit of a stonewaller I think- Listened to commentary and ref did have a good game. Could have made a couple of bookings for either side, but allowed game to flow- Much sooner have a ref like that than some of the pedantic ones we often get- We have not paid good money to come and see the ref!- Best ref I ever saw live was Paul Durkin- Reffed a cup game of ours against Bolton (0-0), and you didn't know he was on the pitch- I remember Scott Murray going down heavily under a challenge and letting Durkin know about it-. Durkin picked him up, pointed as though to say, you've got your free kick, now get on with it!
I couldn't be certain about the penalty incident involving Matt Smith. Apparently their manager agreed it was a penalty. However they could have had quite easily 2 penalties. Had a great view on first half trip on their player - Powell (I think) was definite. Every fan behind, in front and side all agreed. Ayling save was a penalty 99 times out of a hundred. Lucky it was the hundredth for us. But hey, it's football. And a draw was a fair result.
Never mind the referee, what a fantastic day out at a fantastic venue. There were 200 free spaces for disabled cars. The organisation was fantastic and I found all the staff helpful and friendly. The ground was superb as we the surrounding facilities. Oh that we could lift it up and plant it in BS3. Guess the difference is the planners. Yes we all agree MK is "soulless" but when it comes to Footy they have got it right on and off the field and deserve more support. Well done MK and thanks
A penalty is not a GOAL. To do that, someone would have had to take it. If he had given the penalty the result may still have been the same. I believe MKDons were mighty relieved to get a draw yesterday. We were by far the better team and they played very quick on-the-break football, but showed little else. If Freeman could have grown another 6 inches and got on the end of the cross in the 2nd half we would have won - but he didn't. I thought he had a great game. Who was named official man of the match? (and I don't mean their keeper who was clearly voted in with a poll that was only MKDons players)
We got away with that one but over the season these things tend to even themselves out. Of course, I'd rather have the luck against MKD, Swindle & Preston as opposed to some of the clubs lower down the pecking order.....
