Robbo blames the Ref!

Last updated : 07 December 2007 By Wba-mad Editor
Paul Robinson has blamed Tuesday night's home defeat on referee Mark Clattenburg. Robinson received his marching orders after being issued two yellow cards by the official, the second after a mistimed tackle on Michael Mifsud.

The no-nonsense left-back not only believes his second caution was a result of Mifsud feigning injury but also the poor standard of offcialdom is ruining football for associated with the beautiful game.

"The incident for me was nothing," Robinson claimed.

"It was a bad refereeing decision.

"I got the ball and that's the end of the story. I don't know what the linesman was looking at - obviously him rolling around making a load of noise!

"If he had kept his eye on the ball he would have seen that I clearly got a touch on it and put it out for a corner.

"This is football and it's what we have to deal with. The referees for me are not good enough. He (Clattenbury) is rated as one of the best referees in the Premier League but on Tuesday night he had a poor game and cost us the match.

"We worked hard from 2-0 down to get back into it and we thoroughly deserved something out of the game."

The whole-hearted defender believes Clattenburg's mistake is not an isolated one with the Baggies already on the receiving end of poor decisions this season.

""It's frustrating for players and for fans as well. They pay a lot of money to watch an entertaining game and hopefully they pay to watch us win games," Robinson continued.

"The Sheffield Wednesday game was another one when we felt we had something in the bag and the referee cost us.

"It's disappointing for a player because you work yourself to try to get to a certain standard and a certain level and it kills the game and kills the entertainment and stops the fans enjoying themselves.

"No-one plans these things. We've been unlucky with injuries but now everyone is back and hopefully pushing for the Charlton game."