Bolton Vs Fulham | Davies goal ruled out for push

Description of incident: Extremely late in the game, the ball was swung into the Fulham penalty area. Kevin Davies climbed above Hangeland to head what would surely have been the winning goal but the referee blew for a foul by Davies much to the shock of the Bolton players.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Fulham

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Robert Madley & Jeremy Simpson

Decision Type: Free kick | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: Clearly denied Bolton victory | Winner: Fulham | Loser: Bolton Wanderers

Players Involved: Kevin Davies (Bolton) & Brede Hangeland (Fulham)

Summary: I struggled to see what the referee had blown for on first viewing. Video replays did show that Kevin Davies had a forearm in Hangeland's back however, I don't think the contact was enough to warrant a free kick. Roy Hodgson disagreed, but I expect he is only saying that as he is Fulham boss. If Davies' challenge is a foul then it's a sad day for football as it means strength is gradually being phased out of the modern game. Wrong decision for me, the goal should have stood.



Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Bolton | Clean sheet

Date of Game: Saturday 30th January 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Bolton Wanderers

Referee: Steve Bennett | Linesman: Mick McDonough & Shaun Procter-Green

Summary: No major refereeing decisions, clean sheet to Mr Bennett.

Full match highlights from

Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers
by gonzobot110

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Burnley | Elliot escapes red card for foul on Cohen

Description of incident: Tamir Cohen was challenged by Elliot as he passed the ball on. Cohen fell in a manor that suggested he was immediately hurt but the ref, who was right on the spot, waved play on. Which was lucky for Elliot, as he was already on a yellow card.

Date of Game: Tuesday 26th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Burnley

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: Dave Bryan & Jeremy Simpson

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: None | Winner: Burnley | Loser: Bolton Wanderers

Players Involved: Tamir Cohen (Bolton)& Wade Elliot (Burnley)

Summary: I thought this was another relatively easy decision. It was an absolutely atrocious challenge by Elliot which, in my eyes warranted a red card all of its own, but was certainly worthy of the second yellow it would have brought him. It was studs first, knee high. The more I think about it, the more confused I am that the ref got this wrong. It should have been a red card.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Burnley | Lee shot crossed the line

Description of incident: The ball looped into the Burnley penalty area, arriving at the feet of the unmarked Lee. His shot cannoned off the bottom of the bar and bounced down & out of the goal. The ref judged that the ball had crossed the line and gave a goal to Bolton.

Date of Game: Tuesday 26th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Burnley

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: Dave Bryan & Jeremy Simpson

Decision Type: Goal line | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Bolton Wanderers | Loser: Burnley

Players Involved: Chung-Yong Lee (Bolton)

Summary: The ball was hit at some pace but it bounced way over the line, so this was a relatively easy decision for the ref. And he got it right.

Cheers,
WB

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Arsenal Vs Bolton | Gallas foul in build up to Fabregas goal

Description of incident: The move that led to Arsenal's second goal, scored by Fabregas, started with a Gallas tackle on Davies. The ref was only yards away from the tackle and allowed play to continue.

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010

Home Team: Arsenal | Away Team: Bolton Wanderers

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Mick McDonough & John Flynn

Decision Type: Free kick | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: I have the feeling Arsenal would have come back anyway but this made sure | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) & Mark Davies (Bolton)

Summary: The only positive I can provide from the referee's point of view is that his position was fantastic. But that just makes it all the more shocking that he managed to miss this foul. Not only was it a foul, it ended Davies' participation in the game. I'm not saying there was any intention to hurt Davies by Gallas but it was a stomping challenge with his studs landing on Davies' ankle. Wrong decision, free kick missed.

Cheers,
WB

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Arsenal Vs Bolton | Lee awarded penalty for Denilson foul

Description of incident: A Bolton corner dropped to Chung-Yong Lee inside the Arsenal penalty area. He rolled the ball out of his feet, lining up a shot as Denilson slid in from the side bringing him to the ground, with the ref immediately blowing for a penalty.

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010

Home Team: Arsenal | Away Team: Bolton Wanderers

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Mick McDonough & John Flynn

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: Neves Denilson (Arsenal) & Chung-Yong Lee (Bolton)

Summary: This was about as easy a penalty decision that you will see and I think that was summed up by the lack of appeal & the look on Denilson's face. He slid in from the left, slightly off ground and swept both of Lee's feet away and was no where near the ball. Definite, nailed on penalty.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Merida goal ruled onside

Description of incident: Fabregas brought the ball forward, delaying his pass to Eduardo until the very last moment and risking an offside call in the process. No call came and Eduardo's cross found its way to Merida who controlled & finished superbly.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: Cesc Fabregas, Da Silva Eduardo, Fran Merida (Arsenal) & Gretar Rafn Steinsson (Bolton)

Summary: This was a really tight call, so hats off to the referee and linesman for getting it right. Eduardo was played onside by Steinsson, just. And I'm only confident in that decision because of video replays combined with Sky+ pause & rewind! It's times like this where video replays would ruin the game - we could end up with a scenario where, even though the goal would be allowed by the ref, it would invariably lead to video review due to protests, delaying the game and resulting in the same decision regardless. That's only one side of the coin, obviously.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Eastmond touch clearance not backpass

Description of incident: A high ball was launched forward by Bolton for Davies to race onto. As he wrestled with Vermaelen, Eastmond stabbed a toe at the bouncing ball which sent it towards Almunia and the 'keeper decided it was safe to pick up. The ref waved play on, despite the loud protests from Bolton fans and players alike.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Back pass | Verdict: Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: Manuel Almunia, Craig Eastmond, Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) & Kevin Davies (Bolton)

Summary: I didn't feel this was a difficult decision at all. So much so, that I did not feel that this decision warranted entry onto this blog. There were 4 reasons I did include it; Bolton's players, Bolton's fans, Owen Coyle & Andy Gray. All of whom voiced, at varying volume levels, their disagreement with referee Phil Dowd.

The reason I agree with the referee is the body position of Eastmond, I really do believe it was a random stab at the ball and he did not have the wherewithal to direct it into Almunia's arms. No backpass, correct decision referee.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Fabregas denied 2nd penalty

Description of incident: Fabregas was wrestling with at least two Bolton defenders. As he shielded the ball, Knight slid in to challenge. The result being Fabregas tumbling inside the penalty area for the second time only for Dowd to rule no penalty for the second time as well.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 4/5

Affect on Result: TBD | Winner: Bolton | Loser: Arsenal

Players Involved: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) & Zat Knight (Bolton)

Summary: For the second time in the game, I feel Fabregas was denied a certain penalty.  This was a harder decision than the first as there was a forest of legs for him to see the incident through and the same was true of the linesman's view. However, once again, if a player decides to slide in, misses the ball and catches the player, it just has to be a penalty.

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Vs Arsenal | Fabregas denied penalty

Description of incident: Fabregas raced onto a through ball as Jaaskelainen came charging out of his goal to intercept. Fabregas, heading away from goal, reached the ball first as the 'keeper slid in feet first. Fabregas tumbled but the referee ruled no penalty.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: TBD | Winner: Bolton | Loser: Arsenal

Players Involved: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) & Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton)

Summary: This was one of those incidents where the nature of the foul probably did not warrant a penalty (Fabregas was heading away from goal, was going to struggle to retain the ball & it was only a minor touch by Jaaskelainen) however, if Fabregas gets the ball first, Jaaskelainen slides in and makes contact with him and not the ball (all of which happened), it has to be a penalty.  Similar to the Lucas penalty shout for Liverpool yesterday, only Lucas also got booked for diving!

Cheers,
WB

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Bolton Wanderers Vs Arsenal | Klasnic goal ruled offside

Description of incident: Arsenal got caught in possession around 35 yards from their own goal, with Cohen winning the ball for Bolton and playing Klasnic through. Klasnic finished beautifully from outside the Arsenal area, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Date of Game: Sunday 17th January 2010

Home Team: Bolton Wanderers | Away Team: Arsenal

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mark Scholes & Patrick Keane

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Bolton

Players Involved: Ivan Klasnic & Tamir Cohen (Bolton)

Summary: Klasnic was coming back from an offside position as the Arsenal defence were retreating, which could have made this a difficult decision. Happily, the linesman & ref rightly ruled Klasnic offside.

Cheers,
WB

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