Mowbray launches angry ref rant as Sunderland red sparks more PGMOL controversy

07 October 2023 , 14:20

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Sunderland's Dan Neil after giving his marching orders vs Middlesbrough

Tony Mowbray launched a blistering attack on ref Jarred Gillett for sending off Dan Neil - sparking Boro’s biggest ever win at Sunderland.

Michael Carrick’s men capitalised on Neil’s second yellow card just before half time, scoring four goals after the break and claiming their fifth win in a row. But fuming Mowbray said Gillett “spoiled the game”… after saying before the game he would “empathetically” manage the game.

Mowbray said: “Dan has thrown his arm out, 20 yards away from the ref, and said: That’s an f-ing foul ref. That is the emotion of a man. He has not sworn at the ref. When I am emotional the “f” word comes out. That is all Dan has done.

“I don’t understand the logic. I found it ridiculous that in the refs meeting before the game he was talking about using empathy.

“So we have a derby with 45,000 here and he gives a red card for gesticulating, I believe. Not a crunching, snapping tackle with studs up. Gesticulating. He spoiled it for the fans.

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“When a ref tells about empathy before the game then gives a red card in the last minute of the first half: It was a great game, two teams going at it. Where is the management of the players from the official?

“Some refs you can say what you want to them, eff and blind to them and they eff and blind back. Mr Gillett mustn’t like it.

“I will say something inappropriate to him and get a booking and I already have two and a third means I’ll miss a game so I won’t go and see him. I have told the lads to put this game in the bin.”

Boro have won five on the spin

A man up, Carrick’s men killed the game with two goals in two minutes, Sam Greenwood smashed home from Dael Fry’s ball. Then Isiah Jones exploited space with a skip down the line to tee up Matt Crooks from close range.

Jones was brilliant in the second half and added Boro’s third goal in the 72nd minute. He jinked inside from the left wing and passed the ball home. Sub Marcus Forss tapped home in the 90th minute. Carrick said: “That was a big result for us.”

With VAR controversies continuing to dominate the top flight, officiating controversies remain in the Championship. Less than 24 hours before the flashpoint on Wearside, West Brom were left aggrieved after a highly divisive penalty call.

The Baggies were leading neighbours Birmingham City before the hosts were given a penalty, with replays showing the home side were very fortunate. Albion boss Carlos Corberan said: “Today we competed against more than just 11 players. It’s difficult to analyse the game without talking about the penalty because it changed the game.

Simon Bird