‘They all want the celebrity status, don’t they’: Neil Warnock unleashes furious rant at referee Gavin Ward after controversial 2-1 defeat against Swansea
- Middlesbrough seemed hard done by with two refereeing calls against Swansea
- Marc Bola had a goal ruled out before a disputed 97th-minute Swans penalty kick
- And Middlesbrough manager Warnock did not mince his words after the match
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock has unleashed a furious tirade at referee Gavin Ward after several contentious calls in a 2-1 defeat against Swansea on Saturday.
After Andre Ayew’s deflected opener, Boro’s Marc Bola was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out, with team-mate Yannick Bolasie penalised for an apparent foul on Jay Fulton despite the Swans midfielder making contact with him first.
Visiting midfielder Sam Morsy equalised in the 91st minute, but seven minutes into stoppage time, Swansea were given a penalty although George Saville appeared to get the ball in a sliding challenge with home defender Jake Bidwell.
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock unleashed a furious rant after a 2-1 defeat against Swansea
Warnock was completely incensed with several decisions made by referee Gavin Ward (right)
Ayew tucked away the spot-kick to consign Middlesbrough to defeat, leaving Warnock incensed with the officials.
He said after the match: ‘They are all heroes, they all want the celebrity status, don’t they?
‘It’s wrong. My lads have been let down by a team of officials who weren’t good enough today.
Visiting defender Marc Bola was denied a goal after an apparent foul by Yannick Bolasie
Ward then awarded Swansea a 97th minute penalty, from which Andre Ayew scored the winner
‘[PGMOL chief] Alan Wiley has got a job on his hands, because they are not good enough, it’s not right. It shouldn’t be decided on an official.
‘Because they’ve never played the game and don’t understand getting kicked, or being conned, they don’t know the big decisions. That’s what lets them down, all of them.’
The result leaves Swansea in third, one point and one place behind Watford in the second automatic promotion spot, while Middlesbrough lie ninth, seven points off the play-off positions.