Alex Neil laments referee for not awarding TWO ‘stonewall’ penalties in draw with Cardiff

Alex Neil laments referee Andy Woolmer for not awarding TWO ‘stonewall’ penalties in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Cardiff City.

The Potters boss was reeling at his Stoke side not being awarded the spot kicks as they were held by their opposition at the bet365 Stadium.

Stoke came from behind to take the lead in a dramatic first half, with Liam Delap being twice fouled in the area by Cedric Kipre.

However, referee Andy Woolmer was left unmoved on both occasions at a pivotal time as the hosts attempted to extend their lead.

Goals from Tyrese Campbell and Delap completed the turnaround after Ryan Wintle gave the Bluebirds an early lead. However, Callum Robinson levelled the proceedings before the hour mark.

“I thought we had an absolute stonewall penalty,” Neil commented. “I was really frustrated. I’ve seen it back and it’s not a debate for me, and those decisions decide games for us.

“That’s a key decision in the match and they got it wrong. Arguably 2-2 was a fair result, but we 100 per cent deserved that penalty.

“If we get that there’s an opportunity to go 3-1 up and then the likelihood is the game is taken away from them.

“I don’t think we started well, but the pleasing thing is we’ve really struggled to come from a goal down in the past and we responded well today.

“Their goal kicked us into life, and I thought the match was really open for the whole game. There wasn’t much in it at the start of the second half, but they took control when they made the changes.

“I thought the game was too open and we were naïve in some of our decision-making. There were positives; we had enough character and resilience to come back and get ourselves in front, which we haven’t done very often, so that was pleasing.

“But we want to win, particularly if you’re leading, you don’t want to draw or lose from there.”

Cardiff boss Mark Hudson admits that his side were lucky not to concede a penalty.

After the final whistle Hudson said he could see why the Potters would feel “aggrieved” but felt the result was a fair reflection of the game.

“I think we got away with one penalty if I’m honest, but we’ve had stuff go against us this season and sometimes it evens itself out,” he said. “They probably feel really aggrieved with that and we may have got away with it.”

Stoke midfielder Jordan Thompson admits he was frustrated at the decisions and failing to hold on to a lead.

“It’s quite frustrating, we started slow and they got their goal,” Thompson told Stoke City+ after the final whistle. “I think our reaction to their goal was pretty good.

“We dominated most of the first half, but then we go up to try and create another chance, they counter attack and get their goal. We’ve got to learn from that, it’s not the first time it’s happened, but it’s down to us to get that sorted.

“As soon as they got their goal we reacted to it quite well, we got our two goals and I actually felt we were pretty good in the first half. We had a solid shape and were creating a few chances.”

On those incidents, Thompson said: “I think we were supposed to have two penalties, one for certain, in the first half and we didn’t get them. And obviously they go on to score.

“There were a lot of second balls, it was quite scrappy and in midfield we’ve got to tidy it up and create chances for the forwards. I think we had a good few chances in the second half that we should have done better with as well. We’ve just got to be better in those situations.”

Fans reacted as Alex Neil laments the referee for not awarding TWO ‘stonewall’ penalties in the draw with Cardiff…

@ManInTheCagePod: On rewatch of #SCFC from Saturday, I can’t believe there wasn’t at least one penalty given to Stoke City in the first half. Both fouls or least one should have been given to Delap. Terrible officiating. #EFL #SkyBetChampionship

@JPreeceSCFC: Seen the highlights. How the f*** did we not get a penalty?! Both were stonewall

@T_Chappers: Ref was awful, should gave been 3 or 4-1 at half time!! Different game then!!

@Hughesy_Chris: Awful referee !!

@Potters_1863: Unbelievably poor or should I say, believably poor

@Liamdevaney96: It said penalty to Stoke on the sky bet ticker aswell😂😂😂

@potter2207: Shocking decisions, both of them. Both would have been given in the Prem, in the World Cup, or no doubt against us. Will the @EFL, @SkyBetChamp or @FA EVER do something about these inept, or corrupt, officials???

@BigGameGradeA27: The first one was about a clear penalty as you’ll see, terrible

@James_David20: Blatant penalty, yanked him down. Most obvious pen I’ve seen this year

@RW3Timelord: Is this ref OK

@ollie_long93: Clear foul, how we not been given that

@stokecityu: What a horrible ref

@Ojpricee: Refs absolute dog shit

@caribbeanpotter: That first foul on Delap was what the term “stonewall penalty” was coined for. 2nd not much better. The ref is incompetent or a cheat. @FA_PGMOL When are you going to do something about the utter uselessness of these referees? Andy Woolmer needs dropping from the league list.

@pozocampo_: oh how i’ve missed championship referees😍😍 #scfc