It’s fair to say that our game against Burnley was never going to be a classic.
The two worst footballing teams in the Premier League churned out a predictably dour and physical encounter that was decided by a dubious set piece, and the aftermath has seen a little bit of sniping between journalists and fans on social media.
Andy Carroll was unimpressed with the referee’s handling of Burnley’s physical approach, in particular the special attention he received from defender Ben Mee, and also bemoaned Tim Robinson’s part in the home side’s winner.
Sean Dyche claimed he should’ve seen red for a stray elbow, but the 30-year-old believes there was two sides of the story on Saturday, feeling several key decisions went against us:
“He (Mee) was jumping up giving elbows, I was jumping up giving elbows.
“It was exactly the same at both ends but every game it is always me, always me.
“Fabian Schar has come in the dressing room with bumps all over his head, bruises everywhere & somehow nothing.
“It’s a disgrace.”
“Let’s face it, it was a disgusting game.
“The weather was terrible, the referee gave decisions against us.
“We gave everything we could give, but it was a poor game.
“It’s hard to keep your cool in those situations, really hard.
“There were decisions they got that we didn’t get and it’s frustrating.
“The one that led to their goal was the worst. There were poor decisions all the way through from the ref and that led to their goal, it wasn’t a corner.
“The ref has given a corner after he had given a goal-kick and it was a foul on Federico.
“We tried to get the equaliser and push on. But there were lots of decision we didn’t get and it kills the game for us.”
Now I’m a big fan of Andy Carroll, and I’ll admit I had goosebumps watching him lead the team out as captain, but this just sounds like a slight case of sour grapes to be honest.
Carroll certainly dishes it out himself and I’m sure probably every defender who’s ever played against him took a bit of a battering and ended up sporting battle scars. That’s why we love him right?
However, Carroll can moan about the referee and Burnley’s underhand tactics, and Steve Bruce can bemoan the free kick, but the sad and simple fact is that we weren’t good enough, and didn’t deserve anything.
Without Shelvey, Almiron and most importantly Saint Maximin, we never looked like creating any thing other than the sitter Gayle missed after great work from Joelinton.
I just read that we are the first team to not register a shot on target against Burnley in their Premier League history, which is a pretty damning statistic.
Hopefully Shelvey and Almiron will return against Crystal Palace and we can return to winning ways. Bruce usually seems to get a reaction from the team after an abject performance so more of the same please Steve.
What a surprise – Jamie Elliot has negative things to say about the team!
Brrrian(Quote)