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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Hull City Vs Chelsea | Mark Clattenburg Special Mention

I have a feeling that this special mention for Mark Clattenburg's performance in this game will do nothing to endear me to the Hull City fans. And I can understand their frustration; there were a number of decisions for Hull that he either failed to see & or inexplicably gave in Chelsea's favour.

These decisions however, were all minor, mainly taking place in the middle of the pitch. There is a valid argument that the number of these minor decisions going against you will culminate in having an affect on the outcome of the game. But this would be impossible to measure so I can only monitor those incidents that are key & clearly game defining decisions - and Mark Clattenburg got all of those right.

I did omit a couple of other decisions as I did not feel they were controversial enough - but even these decisions the ref got right. Both were potential red cards; one for Terry, a potential second yellow for a stretched slide tackle, and one for Drogba, for a clash with McShane which resulted in the latter leaving the game with a bleeding brow.

Terry actually reached the ball, it was a fabulous tackle. Drogba & McShane clashed heads and then Drogba took a petualant swipe at fresh air which was worthy of the yellow card it received.

With the benefit of video replays, I think there is little debate over any of the key decisions made by Clattenburg in this game and, for this reason, I feel he deserves this special mention. It was a really stormy match and at times he did make some strange decisions but got it right when it really mattered.

Related reviews: Deco handball | Fagan blocking Cech | Lampard penalty appeal | Drogba free kick

Full match highlights from

Hull City v Chelsea
by eldoronaldo

Cheers,
WB

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Hull City Vs Chelsea | Drogba goal given despite protests

Description of incident: Chelsea were given a free kick on the edge of the Hull City penalty area. During the lining up of the wall & free kick, the Hull players were clearly communicating with Mark Clattenburg. Stephen Hunt approached him to discuss something and, shortly after he retreated, the ref blew his whistle; Drogba duly dispatched the ball into the bottom corner. There were strong complaints from Hull, involving Myhill running outside his box to speak to the ref. It later transpired that the Hull players had believed it may have been an indirect free kick, which they were trying to ascertain from Clattenburg prior to the kick being taken. Their complaint was that this message hadn't reached Myhill by the time the kick was taken. It was all too late and the goal had been given.

Date of Game: Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Home Team: Hull City | Away Team: Chelsea

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Darren Cann & Scott Ledger

Decision Type: Free kick | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Chelsea | Loser: Hull City

Players Involved: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Boaz Myhill & Stephen Hunt (Hull City)

Summary: The complaint from Hull's players is absolutely ridiculous. If it had have been an indirect free kick, the referee would have had his arm raised. He didn't therefore it is a direct free kick. This is basic football; they have every right to clarify this verbally with the referee but he does not have to wait until they have passed this news around every member of the team before allowing the kick to be taken. Phil Brown got it right when asked about this post match when he said regardless of anything else, their defending was awful and this is what allowed the goal. Right decision, goal given.

Full match highlights from

Hull City v Chelsea
by eldoronaldo

Cheers,
WB

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Hull City Vs Chelsea | Lampard penalty appeal

Description of incident: In a flowing Chelsea attack, Anelka danced through to the edge of the area where a Hull defender stretched out a leg which the Frenchman collided with. The ball rolled through to Lampard inside the area as two Hull players came in to challenge. Lampard tumbled but the ref had (only just) blown for a foul on Anelka.

Date of Game: Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Home Team: Hull City | Away Team: Chelsea

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Darren Cann & Scott Ledger

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 3/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Hull City | Loser: Chelsea

Players Involved: Nicolas Anelka & Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Summary: On first viewing, this looked like a really decent claim for a penalty because of the way that Lampard fell. However, with the benefit of video replay, it can be seen that Lampard has already tumbled and lost control of the ball before any Hull player touched him. And even then, it would have been tough to have classed the collision as worthy of a penalty. Right decision, free kick on the edge but no penalty.

Full match highlights from

Hull City v Chelsea
by eldoronaldo

Cheers,
WB

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Hull City Vs Chelsea | Fagan blocking Cech from corners

Description of incident: Fagan's job from Hull's corners was to make it difficult for the 'keeper to claim the cross. As this particular corner was swung into the box, Fagan was jostling with a Chelsea defender inside the six yard box, right in front of Cech. This meant he stayed on his line and Mouyokolo rose to head the ball over Cech's reach and into the net. The ref allowed the goal to stand.

Date of Game: Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Home Team: Hull City | Away Team: Chelsea

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Darren Cann & Scott Ledger

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

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Hull City | Loser: Chelsea

Players Involved: Craig Fagan, Steven Mouyokolo (Hull City) & Petr Cech (Chelsea)

Summary: Fagan's challenge from corners had already been drawn to the referee's attention earlier in the game, so he should have had an eye on him this time. Fagan actually does nothing other than spread himself and hold his position; it just happens to be the area in which Cech needs to run to claim the ball. The Chelsea defender does his best to move Fagan legally but does not succeed. There are no offenses during this passage so it was the right decision, goal given.

Full match highlights from

Hull City v Chelsea
by eldoronaldo

Cheers,
WB

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Hull City Vs Chelsea | Did Deco handle the ball in the penalty area?

Description of incident: With the score still at nil-nil, Deco & Altidore challenged for the bouncing ball just inside the Chelsea area. It squirmed between them and at times both players had arms out-stretched. There were loud shouts for handball against Deco but Clattenburg allowed play to continue.

Date of Game: Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Home Team: Hull City | Away Team: Chelsea

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Darren Cann & Scott Ledger

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

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Chelsea | Loser: Hull City

Players Involved: Deco (Chelsea) & Craig Fagan (Hull City)

Summary: Although Deco did have out-stretched arms during the challenge, replays showed that the only time the ball hit his hand or arm was when it was withdrawn in at his chest. Correct decision, no penalty.

Full match highlights from

Hull City v Chelsea
by eldoronaldo

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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Birmingham City Vs Manchester United | Fletcher sending off

Description of incident: Fletcher was sent off for two bookable offenses. The first was for a tackle from behind on Bowyer. The second for a trip on Jerome.

Date of Game: Saturday 9th January 2010

Home Team: Birmingham City | Away Team: Manchester United

Referee: Mark Clattenburg| Linesman: John Flynn & Paul Simpson

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

Affect on Result: Arguably none, potentially denying United an extra man in the final push and obviously in games to come when Fletcher will be banned. | Winner: Birmingham City | Loser: Manchester United

Players Involved: Darren Fletcher (Man Utd), Lee Bowyer & Cameron Jerome (Birmingham)

Summary: The first yellow was an obvious one. Fletcher came straight through the back of Bowyer - right decision. The second was definitely not a yellow card offense. Fletcher was stretching for the ball and barely caught Jerome, it wasn't a dangerous tackle, he had little time withdraw his leg from the tackle due to being off balance and it was a clear attempt for the ball.

Cheers,
WB

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Birmingham City Vs Manchester United | Park penalty shout

Description of incident: Trying to find space for a shot, Park raced past Carr inside the Birmingham penalty area and went tumbling as the two players came together.

Date of Game: Saturday 9th January 2010

Home Team: Birmingham City | Away Team: Manchester United

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: John Flynn & Paul Simpson

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

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Birmingham City | Loser: Manchester United

Players Involved: Ji-Sung Park (Man Utd) & Stephen Carr (Birmingham)

Summary: Easy decision. No penalty. Enough said.

Cheers,
WB

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Stoke City Vs Fulham | Sidibe Goal

Description of incident: In a flowing move, Stoke's Rory Delap charged into the area.  He had expected an earlier ball so had to put the breaks on.  Then the ball was swung into the box, Delap flicked it on for Sidibe to volley into the ground before nestling in the top corner of the net.

Date of Game: Tuesday 5th January 2010

Home Team: Stoke City | Away Team: Fulham

Referee: Mark Clattenburg | Linesman: Dave Bryan & Robert Madley

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

Affect on Result: May have cost Fulham a point | Winner: Stoke City | Loser: Fulham

Players Involved: Rory Delap & Mamady Sidibe (both Stoke City)

Summary: Having seen the replays, Delap was definitely offside.  It was such a close call that I wouldn't expect anyone to notice it with the naked eye.  The pundits on Sky Sports seemed to suggest that because it was such a close call that it meant it was onside.  Now I know the benefit of the doubt should side with the attackers and I would not blame the officials for the decision they made but that does not mean Delap was not offside - he was.

Cheers,
WB

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