I really do not want to have a rant because there really is no need. Palace are having their best season in years and Freedman in my eyes has not only secured the clubs future for the better but he has also secured his status as untouchable club legend and my personal idol. Look no further than Brighton, Millwall, and the cup run with the result at Manchester United away for proof of that. No the reason I rant is the quality of referee’s and general officiating in this division. I have not seen a good referee in the Championship for years and the quality of the officiating in the 1 – 1 draw against Leeds Utd on Saturday was so bad and frankly one sided I was left questioning my sanity and posing the question; Referee’s? What is the point? Would the game not be better off without officials with the flow of the game being upheld by players? Mad though this seems I think the results of recent matches would have been less complicated by the egos and personalities of officials that are far from consistent!
Harsh though this seems I am trying not to script a knee jerk reaction rant but the dismissal of Sean Scannell at the end of the first half was not a booking because in my view there was no contact, indeed I think the Leeds player tripped over his own foot and the Referee was at a poor angle to see this. The truly frustrating thing about this refereeing performance is Leeds are still two points above us and victory would have put us in the playoff shake up, now we are bunched up further away in mid table. The annoying thing was the official’s inconsistency which went to the extreme with Leeds gaining decisions Palace simply did not get. Even decisions that seemed 70 % - 30% Palace went Leeds way. It is fair to say that any decision does ultimately affect both teams and last Tuesday we were lucky in the League Cup Semi Final with Referee Mike Dean disallowing a legitimate Cardiff goal, decisions do go both ways and Tuesdays decision went in Palace’s favour. I must be clear this annoyance is not sour grapes, as a fan on the pitch I have nothing to worry about, but I honestly think it is coming to a time where football as a whole would be better off if it trialled no officials.
To the match itself that finished in a credible draw against a good Leeds side. The red card just before half time changed the game and meant Palace went from dominating offensively to defending. Yet in going 10 vs 11 Palace had the opportunity to work a defensive formation practising defending a lead for forty five minutes at a man’s disadvantage. In the second half the absence of Scannell meant when Palace attacked with balls up to Easter and Martin through Wright and Ambrose second wave opportunities were few and far between. No one was there to pick up the ball off Leeds clearances and as a result support for Parr and Dumbaye in launching second wave attacks was lacking. Palace were defensively dominant and keeper Speroni made a fantastic double save that was world class involving him reacting to get down low to the ground quickly to turn the ball around his near post.
The game was entertaining and Leeds were worthy of their point despite the officiating. Before the sending off palace were dominant deservedly taking the lead in the opening ten minutes in a well worked move with Ambrose supplying Martin to slot home with a crisp finish past Lonarghan. After this Palace controlled the game with the back four sweeping up any pressure with a solid debut from Doncaster loanee Mousa Duombaye who slotted into an established back four that remained confident and hard to break down even after the red card. The good fortune of a deflection offered Leeds the path they were looking for to get back into the match with the returning Robert Snodgrass able to equalise and rescue a point for Leeds against a determined Palace side. No doubt the travelling fans from Yorkshire would have been delighted with the point even if Simon Grayson needed to rely on the officials to do half his job for him.
I think my frustration is as a fan I view this as a ruined opportunity to pick up points on a rival team for the playoffs in the top half of the Championship. I cannot be critical of Crystal Palace’s endeavour either in keeping their heads in difficult circumstances and being professional in getting a point from the game or in producing the best on the pitch all season. Next week we play Blackpool at the seaside in the hope of gathering pace on our rivals outside the playoffs. I will be following intently. Blackpool is important as this Freedman’s last chance to gather his tactical thoughts prior to the conclusion of the League Cup Semi Final in Wales.
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