Cardiff boss Warnock fumes at refereeing decisions following Millwall draw

Posted Saturday, February 10, 2018 by PA

Neil Warnock claimed referee Keith Stroud cost Cardiff victory by disallowing Sol Bamba’s late finish in their 1-1 draw at Millwall.

Warnock also believes Cardiff should have been awarded a late penalty and described the official’s decision-making as “appalling” and “an absolute disgrace”.

Warnock had seen his team largely outplayed after taking a third-minute lead through Junior Hoilett’s powerful strike, with Lee Gregory levelling things up in the 40th minute.

But the visitors applied consistent pressure late on and saw Bamba find the back of the net with an 83rd-minute bicycle kick, only for it to be ruled out by Stroud because of a foul on Joe Bennett by Millwall striker Steve Morison on the edge of the area.

Warnock was far from impressed by that decision, and also felt Cardiff should have been given a spot-kick for handball when Shaun Hutchinson blocked a shot from Callum Paterson.

“There were two major decisions and he got them both wrong,” the 69-year-old said of Stroud to Sky Sports. “I feel let down. The official has cost us the game.

“It’s appalling at this level. It’s definitely handball in the last minute.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. If he doesn’t see it’s a penalty he shouldn’t be refereeing, and if he doesn’t see it’s advantage he shouldn’t be refereeing.

“But for the referee it would’ve been three points. You can’t tell me he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s an experienced ref. It’s a good job I don’t say what I really mean or it would cost me a fortune.”

Cardiff remain fourth on 55 points, two points and two places behind second-placed Derby, and Warnock added in his post-match press conference: “He’ll be distraught but that’s no good for us. He’ll get another game next week.

“He didn’t see Sol in the box. It’s quite understandable, isn’t it? He’s only six-foot-six.

“I’m glad VAR’s coming in. It’ll eliminate some of these elementary mistakes.

“That’s as poor as I’ve seen (Stroud). You’ve got to ask what’s happening on the (referees’) coaching side; you’ve got to expect better.

“I feel absolutely abject for losing two points in such a way.”
Millwall manager Neil Harris, who handed a second debut to the returning Tim Cahill as a late substitute, similarly recognised his team had been fortunate that Bamba’s effort had been disallowed.

“We got away with the disallowed goal,” said Harris, whose team sit 14th but on Tuesday were eliminated from the FA Cup after a 1-0 defeat at Rochdale.

“We will take it because we have had so many decisions go against us this season.

“Hopefully what goes around comes around and that was a bit of payback for us.

“It was an excellent point against another side that are vying for the Premier League.”