Bolton's former top Premier League referee talks football - every Wednesday

I CAN understand managers' frustrations with referees, especially in the Championship.

Watching Wanderers’ game at Blackburn Rovers on the TV on Friday night, I think Paul Tierney will be disappointed with a few of his decisions in the cold light of day.

I’d also be interested to know what the assessors made of it.

But yesterday I was watching the clock and wondering whether the Football Association would punish Neil Lennon for his critical words after the final whistle.

He must have been frustrated – but my advice to him would be to wait the 30 minutes after the game, knock on the referee’s door and have a moan at him in the confines of the referee’s room. What gets said in there, stays in there.

When a manager comes out and says things in the heat of the moment to the press, it can very quickly get out of hand.

You don’t see too many Premier League managers do it these days because they know how quickly the news spreads and it’ll land you an instant fine.

The powers that be don’t want to see the Premier League brand associated with negativity and so they make sure every little indiscretion is punished.

At the time this column went to press, Neil had avoided the dreaded disciplinary letter, and I must say I’m a little relieved.

I certainly think the Championship could soon benefit from some Premier League experience, once they introduce full-time referees.

I wonder whether the PGMOL will decide to use some of the officials that are not getting regular television games and put them into the second tier group, thereby saving a little bit of money?

Each referee is contracted for 12 months, so in the summer it would be easy to say to some of them: “You’re no longer in this group earning £90,000 plus bonuses, you’re in this one at £50,000 plus bonuses.”

There are a few names that just haven’t made that breakthrough but are still good officials who could do a job at that level.

It would mean a smaller pool to choose from but the top referees in the elite group would then be a fourth official during one game at the weekend, then the next a main official, and vice-versa.

Something has to happen soon because standards across the board are slipping in my opinion. I said so at the end of last season and there has been nothing this season to make me change my mind.

***

I WAS gobsmacked that Robert Huth was not sent off for needlessly blasting the ball towards an injured player on Saturday.

The Leicester City defender should have been punished with a straight red card when he appeared to aim the ball at the head of prostrate Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, an act that could have done some very serious damage.

I don’t know what he was thinking? And for that matter, I cannot understand why Neil Swarbrick only chose to issue a caution.

The Football Association obviously hid behind the fact the referee had seen it and that he’d issued a yellow card but for me this was an extraordinary incident and should have been brought back up for discussion.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is learning quickly that this might be the Premier League but the same issues with officiating still exist at the highest level.

He has done well to restrain himself so far, particularly when you see that Lee Tomlin should have had a clear penalty in the game.

Neil had judged that the offence happened outside the area but how he came to that conclusion I really don’t know.

I’ve missed similar things myself – been too slow to get the right angle on the decision, not been quick enough on my toes to keep right up with play. You see it again afterwards and think "I got that wrong".

But Neil was in the perfect position. He was right there to give it.

We had more poor decisions in the Liverpool v West Ham game from referee Kevin Friend.

Once again you have to look at his positioning and recognition in his choice to send off West Ham’s Mark Noble.

He was looking through players and in too much of a rush to bring out his red card.

He also sent off Phillipe Coutinho for what was a careless, not reckless challenge. He should have managed it better.

I speak to officials up and down the country regularly and I know these problems stem from the fact we are refereeing to an evaluation system.

Time and time again we see referees having to stick to a prescriptive law book that takes away their ability to manage games or take into consideration other factors like it being a local derby, for example.

And when these mistakes are highlighted it impacts upon their confidence levels.

***

WHEN push comes to shove, you have to get it right in the penalty area – but Craig Pawson got it all wrong this weekend in the Chelsea v Crystal Palace game.

Jose Mourinho has reopened his “conspiracy file” after the official failed to spot a clear pull on his player, Kurt Zouma, which should have resulted in a penalty.

The score was 0-0 at the time and could have made all the difference. Instead the Blues went on to slip to a rare home defeat.

Pawson should have spotted it but I think it shows he does have problems identifying this kind of offence.

We saw two ignored in a Liverpool game at Anfield a few weeks ago, then on the other hand he disallows a perfectly good goal for Bournemouth.

It’s clear he needs some work on that side of the game.

At least Craig is getting a game – poor old Lee Mason’s exile continues and by the time the international break is over, he will have been out of action for more than a month.

One indifferent game at Crystal Palace and he’s in the doghouse; it’s crazy.

I experienced it myself – when I failed to spot a red card at Wigan for a foul by Callum McManaman on Massimo Haidara.

I found myself blackballed for six weeks with no one talking to me.

I hope that isn’t the case for Lee and that he quickly gets a chance to get back on the horse.

***

JON Moss saw the funny side when he mistook his notebook for his red card on Saturday.

He sent Norwich City’s Stephen Whittaker off for a cynical challenge on Dusan Tadic but got himself confused and managed to show him the black card!

Thankfully he was all smiles – but I know exactly how he feels.

I remember forgetting my cards altogether during a UEFA Cup game in Gothenburg involving Halmstad and Sampdoria.

I had to caution one player and had to wave an imaginary card in the air. Thankfully, the assessor didn’t spot it or else I’d have had my wrists slapped.

Jon will have been a bit embarrassed at the weekend but we’ve all done it – and lived to fight another day!