April 19 2009

Victor Moses

Nigel Clough brought his Derby County team to south London but returned to the Midlands a disappointed man after a 1-0 defeat, reports Jamesey.

My mathematics aren't in the Newtonian league but it appeared that if we lost our last three games and other results went against us we could have been going down to the third tier with our beloved friends, Chortletown Pathetic.

It seems only a short time ago we were realistically hoping for another play-offs experience. How things change after an inconsistent couple of months.

I certainly didn't in my wildest dreams think we would even be mentioning the dreaded R-word in mid-April.

Anyhow our 1-0 win over Derby County now means we are safe and will be plying our trade in the Championship in 2009-10 although the apparent lack of any buyer for the club and shortage of readies could mean a lean and hungry campaign to come.

The sending-off of Victor Moses was one of the talking points of the game although at least two of my fellow supporters told me they thought our play improved dramatically after Victor's departure.

Whatever the reasons for that, the second yellow card was definitely wrong as far as I am concerned and I sit directly opposite to where the incident occurred.

Victor went in with a clean tackle and connected with the ball. Surely, the rules of the game say "no foul"? I am told you can appeal against a straight red card but not against two yellows. Where the logic of that rule comes from is totally beyond me.

Shefki Kuqi's beautifully executed lob to score the winning goal did have a suggestion of offside about it.

Given all his other pro-Rams decisions, I was amazed when the ref, Mr Whistling Woolmer, actually allowed the goal to stand.

All-in-all, it was a thoroughly entertaining game and it was good to walk down the Holmesdale Road with a warm glow and three points in the bag, and our first home win since Preston (Mar 7).

To conclude with a comment on last week's game, I used to have quite a lot of time for Cardiff City manager, Dave Jones.

But I could hardly believe that he had successfully complained to the FA and got Claude Davis a three-match ban for use of the elbow.

So a couple of suits at the FA watched a video and, of course, knew much better than the ref and linesmen who were actually there at the match.

And is it now common practice for the FA to investigate complaints from the most biased source possible, the opposition management?

I intend to complain to the FA and the Metropolitan Police that Dave Jones be banned and prosecuted for attempting to assault a CPFC player on the touchline at half-time.

Some chance...

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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