Tom Cleverley was left unhappy at certain refereeing decisions after Plymouth lose 4-1 to Reading in League One on Boxing Day.
In the 12th minute, midfielder Joe Ralls had been shown a straight red for denying a goal-scoring opportunity by dragging down Reading’s Derrick Mitchell. The spot kick was awarded and converted by Lewis Wing, who also doubled his side’s lead four minuted later.
Cleverley strongly disputed the red, saying it was a clear yellow card at most, and added that none of the Reading players appealed for red, with several defenders nearby.
Reading then went 3-0 up by the 20th minute, though Plymouth got one back through Xavier Amaechi in the 68th minute, then won a penalty when Bali Mumba was fouled by Reading’s Kelvin Abrefa, with no card shown.
Lorent Tolaj’s spot kick was saved, then on the rebound, Brendan Wiredu was fouled in the box, appeals for a second penalty were ignored and a frustrated Cleverley was booked.
Have to say I struggle to see how the first one is a penalty & straight red, whilst the second is a penalty and no booking.
The penalty calls are spot on, but both should’ve been yellow cards rather than a red and nothing.
There needs to be a level of consistency.#pafc pic.twitter.com/OkYKf2uK76
— Jayden Wilkins (@JWilkinsFLW) December 27, 2025
Plymouth head coach Tom Cleverley said, per Plymouth Live: “We knew we were playing a very good team. I think they are in a bit of a false league position, and Reading proved that today.
“I’m gutted we didn’t see 11 v 11 because I thought it would have been an excellent game. The moment we were in, winning our last three league games, scoring five last week (in the 5-1 win away to Doncaster Rovers) we were in for a really good game of football on a Boxing Day, which our supporters haven’t seen for nine years.
“I think the first penalty is a yellow card and not one of their players is asking for a red. You can hear the shock and the gasps from the whole stadium, and their bench as well.
“Disappointed the game got taken away from everyone there really. If we scored our penalty you never know what might have happened and I’m really proud of how much the players gave it a go.”
@pieface23pafc I Hate Football #pafc #plymouth #pieface #football #fyp ♬ original sound – Pieface23
Cleverley added: “When Wiredu gets taken down from the rebound (after Tolaj’s penalty was saved) it’s a no-brainer, but that’s where we are at.”
“So maybe not alive enough, not anticipating enough, not proactive enough. They are things we have done very well recently but they (Reading) landed on a lot of second phase set pieces.
“I thought they were brilliant at the edge of the box in terms of that. So, technically, there are things we can do better.
“At 1-0 down and down to 10 men you have got to stay in the game longer so that’s another technical thing. And when you look at the team 10 days ago, you have got Ralls, (Joe) Edwards and (Julio Pleguezuelo), and two-thirds of that is gone after 12 minutes today.
“You miss your game managers on the pitch. When you go down to 10, if it’s 1-0 at 80 minutes then you can give it a right good go and that would be a good piece of learning for us today.”
On Ralls being sent off: “I have had the luxury of seeing it back, the referee hasn’t. There’s five people between the goal and the Reading player.
“I think the problem for the referee was he gave the penalty and straight away went for a red card. I think he should have given the penalty and given himself a second to see the melee in front of the action.
“If he had given himself a second, he would have seen no Reading players appealing for a red card and then we might have had a more accurate decision.
“My overwhelming feeling is I’m gutted we lost three points, gutted it wasn’t an occasion for our supporters to see a really good game of football.”
On two penalty incidents: “I think anyone who has been in this game for a long time would say penalty kick, yellow card for both incidents 99 times out of 100.
“Unfortunately, we got the one today where one was a red card and one was zero. And the worrying thing is the linesman where he has had to manage the goal-line for the penalty, he’s on the pitch when Brendan Wiredu gets contact.
“He couldn’t have been any closer, he was on the pitch, and to not give it as a penalty is really disappointing. Our penalties for and against, and our red cards for and against, is getting rather unbalanced.
“I know they have got to referee that objectively but I think we are due a bit of luck, that’s for sure.”
Reading’s Leam Richardson said: “It was a great start from the players. All the credit goes to them for taking the information in and executing what we wanted.
“We have got a group that are learning, young, not been together that long, so we have spoken many times about how consistent we can be and it’s something we will keep striving for because that’s what good, successful teams do.
“It was a competitive and challenging game. Plymouth have come off the back of a really good run of form and a 5-1 win at Doncaster. Top goal scorer in the league and relegated from the Championship, they have got a good manager, good players, so it was everything I expected.
“Obviously we prepare through the week for different challenges. You have got to be adaptable in this league and so we had to make sure we started the game right here because the fans are excellent at Home Park, they get behind the team.
“You have got to manage certain situations.”
Here’s how fans reacted with Tom Cleverley unhappy at refereeing decisions after Plymouth lose 4-1 to Reading…
@TheMacPacker: TC is just full of excuses, and we’re sick of hearing it. A red and tons of yellows again, including for himself. The lack of leadership and control he exudes is embarrassing… #pafc
@_cobibudge: When you go down to 10 men, you need to stay calm and you need to slow the game. But instead, we panicked and we folded like a deck chair. After that 10 minute capitulation, I actually thought we played OK, but you can’t go giving away a 3 goal lead as easily as we did. #pafc
@ChiIdishDanbino: Awful “lacks experience” from Cleverley, when it was our most experienced player with the stupid challenge 10 mins into the game to leave us with 10 men. If we didn’t capitulate for 20 mins after the red we would’ve had a game on our hands, even with 10 men #pafc
@StevieWotsa: An absolute appalling game that mostly wasn’t on the Argyle team themselves which feels very odd. The officials mind blowing
@lwestlake7: Can not crumble like that with 10 men in 20 mins! Rash sub made! Ross no where near good enough! We need a GK,CB,CM and two decent wingers minimum in January! Reading were not even decent! Should have kept Oseni on, if tolaj converted the pen they would have crumbled!
@Voodoov21: I know Argyle traditionally always do the unexpected, but this particular squad’s ability to find new and ingenious ways to fuck things completely up pretty much every other game is quite remarkable. Bravo. #pafc
@DaveWitts: Honking result again. Can’t really blame the ref. Silly red, unnecessary sub straight away that clearly unsettled our shape, shite defending for goals 2 and 3, childish penalty etc. Cleverly gets another free pass. #pafc
@Neilpafc: Isn’t it funny how we conceded a penalty and a straight red yet when we get a penalty there’s no booking whatsoever? Talk about the inconsistency of these shit referees in the EFL. Shocking. #pafc
@coops214: Again like every fan, you try and look where it all went wrong… Officials didn’t help but we are in need of a new GK, LB and CM. Sorinola and Boateng aren’t doing it for me #pafc
@NinjaMatt77: After some positivity post Doncaster, the same players lauded, have had a shocker today. Ralls no need to get himself sent off, Tolaj – at that point in the game, why take THAT penalty. Experience or no experience, Jesus Christ Argyle, you make it tough sometimes. Fuck sake. Tweets re Tolaj. As long as it’s not abuse, the fans have every right to have an opinion. If you take THAT penalty and blast it over/wide/keeper saves it, no problem, you did your best. IMO what he did, shows selfishness, he’s great for us yes, but he’s need to care too. #pafc
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