Head coach Steve Cooper slammed Moussa Niakhate’s red card in Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw with Brentford.
When the centre-back was sent out for a second bookable offence early in the second half, the Reds were down to ten men. But they came back to earn a point, with Nicolas Dominguez canceling out Christian Norgaard’s opening.
Norgaard scored from a free kick granted after Niakhate was given a second yellow card for a foul on Yoane Wissa. Cooper, on the other hand, felt the incident did not warrant a booking.
“Because of the way we started the second half, if it had stayed with 11 men – and it should have stayed with 11 men – the game would have settled and we would have got the impetus back,” he stated. “There was a real opportunity to create moments in the game, but with the red card, it was a different game.”
“No one mentions it if he doesn’t give the second yellow. Your colleagues on television and radio have all stated the same thing. The PGMOL needed a clean day because it was the only Premier League game of the day, but they got the opposite.
“We want to assist referees.” We will gripe and complain just like everyone else; it’s in our nature. We strive to be respectful, but it can be difficult at times. But they must help themselves. “The first yellow for Moussa irritates me. He should not have charged. He shouldn’t have received a yellow card – it was the correct choice – and giving away a free kick in that position is something we’d discussed not doing. It was ridiculous because they are a one-man show.
“But the second yellow is only… If he had simply given a free kick, no one would have noticed. To see it, you need knowledge and comprehension of football. It’s a contact sport.
“Some (decisions) have gone in our favor, so I’m not sitting here saying we’ve been treated unfairly.” We all want refereeing to be at the proper level, and we all want to assist them, but they must assist themselves. The last thing they needed today were decision-making talking points.
“Let’s collaborate, and we’ll help.” Some things have worked in our favor, but not as many as they have worked against us. This league is amazing, and every aspect of it should be at that level.”
Leave a Reply