Sinking Feeling!

The topsy-turvy season is never truer than at this level. On paper this week should have been our big push toward the playoffs, instead, we are lingering in the bottom half. Things started badly on Saturday with another laughable decision by the inept officials. I wish someone could clarify what the referee’s assistant can and cannot make decisions on. Here is the way I see it. The linesman seems to have incidents that happen near them which they don’t even act upon. Is there a look toward the referee to see if he shares the linesman’s opinion? Or is he/she acting as another set of eyes altogether? The game against Oldham left me none the wiser. A lunge by an Oldham player (removing half the Roots Hall turf) was ignored by the referee’s assistant despite it happening under his nose?!? Say or wave something man!!

The very same assistant took it upon himself to give a penalty that was missed by the referee, all playing staff, and 6000 of the Southend faithful?!? The resultant penalty was scored so the blues dropped a point. There’s quite clearly a case of sour grapes about this blog (rant) but it’s because I don’t quite understand the duties of the linesman. They should either be assistants and give their opinions when asked or be more headstrong in their decisions. I’m assuming the first of these two options is true, in which case how can a linesman have the authority to give penalties against the judgment of the referee?

Next up was Brentford away. My only away game so far this campaign. Griffin Park is a typical old-school ground with seats that are clearly designed for people under 5 feet tall. I settled in nicely squeezing my head between my knees. Early on in the game came the strangest goal I’ve ever seen. A free kick about 25 yards out was curled under the post by Simon Francis. The keeper caught the ball above his head and seemed to drift backward with the ball still in his hands. The linesman gave it as a goal! The crowd and the Southend players were stunned. It was only when the players started to huddle that the fans accepted it was a goal and started to celebrate. The linesman had clearly got the memo about our previous experience with assistant referees.

Two penalties in the second half put a dampener on proceedings especially as the second was given in the 94th minute. Brentford weren’t particularly good but then neither were we. A draw would have been fair, but Southend decided to self-destruct…again! Looking at the positives though, we are on target with my pre-season target of ‘avoid relegation’!