Ok, we're all entitled to our opinion, however, turn it around. We're trailing and their striker "doesn't rush" to retrieve the ball. Do you, in a high stake derby match just sit and wait or do you shout for him to hurry up?
Yes, refs should be impartial, but how often do they lean towards the home team? They're not called 'homers' for nothing. It happens. Is it right, not at all. But the players, who are experienced professionals need to take some responsibility. Liverpool blame the ref (and everything else) when things go against them. I don't want to be like them.
And It's not a problem we had in just this one game is it? HRK with a rush of blood and saw red. Then Brunt goes diving in twice and sees red. He also could have been sent off for the "stamp", some refs would have sent him off. The players gave the ref the choice to make.
Gayles first yellow proved to be costly. Yes, it's debatable, perhaps very unfair. But how many other single events have proved costly this season? Here's a few:
- Johnstone/Barry passing vs Middlesbrough which led to a goal
- Brunt miskicking vs Middlesbrough which led to a goal
- Losing the ball from kick off against Leeds which led to a goal
- Gibbs going to ground against Grealish which led to a goal
My point is these are some of the errors that were in our control, and giving control to the ref after a warning is an error on Gayles part.